V 


W5T0RY  OF  THE  LAND  OFTHE  MIDNIGHT  SUN  FOUNDS 

upon  Gordon  & Bennett's  piay  ofthe  same  name.  % J 

by  GRACE  MILLER  WHITE.  7? 

^ ‘ } ! ' '‘w*1  j * ■ \ £ 

fVW  JlSIltlf  . , T\  i m 


Oak  Street 
UNCLASSIFIED 


MRS.  WINSLOW'S 

Soothing 

^nrSw*  Syrup 

Greatly  facilitates  the  process  of  teething  by  soften- 
ing the  gums  and  reducing  all  inflammation.  Will 
allay  ati  pain  and  spasmodic  action,  and  is 

Suits  to  Regulate  the  BoweiSm 


Depend  upon  it,  mothers,  it  will  give  rest  to  yourselves  and 

Relief  ansi  Health  to  your  Infants* 

We  have  put  up  and  sold  this  article  for  over  sixty  years,  and  can  say  In  confi- 
dence and  truth  of  it  what  we  have  never  been  able  to  say  of  any  other  medi- 
cine : never  has  it  failed  in  a single  instance  to  effect  a cure  when  timely  used. 
Never  did  we  know  an  instance  of  dissatisfaction  by  any  one  who  used  it  On 
the  contrary,  all  are  delighted  with  its  operations,  and  speak  in  terms  of  high- 
est commendation  of  its  magical  effects  and  medical  virtues-.  We 
speak  in  this  matter  “ what  we  do  know  ” after  years  of  experience,  and  pledge 
our  reputation  for  the  fulfillment  of  what  we  here  declare.  In  almost  every  in- 
stance, where  the  infant  is  suffering  from  pain  and  exhaustion,  relief  will  be 
found  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after  the  syrup  is  administered. 

This  valuable  preparation  has  been  used  with  never  ~ failing 
success  In  thousands  of  cases*  It  not  only  relieves  the  child 
from  pain,  but 

Invigorates  the  Stomach  ami  BoweiSm 

MRS.  WINSLOW’S  SOOTHING  SYRUP  corrects  acidity  and  gives 
tone  and  energy  to  the  whole  system.  It  will  almost  instantly  relieve  griping 
in  the  bowels  and  wind  colic.  We  believe  it  the  best  and  surest 
remedy  in  the  world  in  all  ccses  of 

Diarrhoea  in  Children, 

whether  arising  from  teething  or  any  other  cause. 

We  would  say  to  every  mother  who  has  a child  suffering  from  any  of  the 
foregoing  complaints,  do  not  let  your  prejudices,  nor  the  prejudices  of  others, 
stand  between  your  suffering  child  and  the  relief  that  will  be  sure — yes,  abso- 
lutely sure — to  follow  the  use  of  this  medicine  if  timely  used.  Full  directions 
for  using  will  accompany  each  bottle.  Twenty-five  Cents  a Bottle. 

None  genuine  unless  the  facsimile  of  CURTIS  A 
**ER$€!NS,  New  York,  is  on  the  outside  wrapper * Sold 
by  Druggists  throughout  the  world* 


will  find  MRS.  WINSLOW’S  SOOTH. 
BWEQJf  m ING  SYRUP  the  Best  Remedy  to  use 

for  their  children  sharing  the  T®&th$ng  PGPMOdm 


UNCLE  CHARLIE’S  POEMS. 

By  CHARLES  NOEL  DOUGLAS. 

12mo9  160  Pages . Cloth  Pound.  Price,  50  Cents • 

A SURE  CURE  FOR  THE  BLUES. 

NOT  A DRY  LINE  FROM  COVER  TO  COVER. 


This  is  the  most  thoroughly  entertaining  book  of  verse 
ever  offered  to  the  public.  Every  line  a laugh • Every 
page  a tonic . 

All  the  humorous  gems  of  this  author’s  verse  have  been 
gathered  into  this  delightfully  novel  and  artistic  volume. 
Humorous  poem  follows  humorous  poem,  until  the  mind 
is  bewildered,  and,  just  as  the  sides  have  begun  to  ache  from 
excessive  laughter,  a section  of  the  book  is  reached  that  is 
filled  with  verse  that  inspires,  lifts  the  reader  to  those 
heights  where  radiantly  gleam  the  towers  of  the  Holy  City 
upon  the  cloudless  , blue  of  celestial  skies.  The  beacon  light 
of  faith  grandly  shines  from  out  an  ocean  of  mirth  and 
wholesome  fun. 

If  you  are  despondent,  sick,  blue,  lonesome,  despairing  or 
afflicted  with  any  of  the  mental  or  physical  ills  of  humanity  J 
and  desire  to  be  an  entirely  new  being  read  Uncle  Char- 
lie’s Poems . If  you  are  happy  and  would  still  be  happier 
read  Uncle  Charlie’s  Poems . In  fact,  there  is  not  a 
mental  or  bodily  condition  that  will  not  be  improved  by  the 
perusal  of  these  gems  of  rhymed  fun. 

Elegantly  printed  on  superior  paper,  artistically  bound  in 
cloth.  A handsome,  substantial  volume ; an  ideal  gift  book 
for  any  occasion  and  within  the  reach  of  every  purse.  This 
volume  also  contains  an  absorbingly  interesting 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR’S  LIFE, 
i together  with  elegant  half-tone  pictures  of  this  popular 
writer  whose  sparkling  wit,  irresistible  humor,  unfailing 
cheerfulness  and  wonderful  optimism,  have  made  his  writ- 
ings a source  of  delight  and  inspiration  to  millions  of  Ameri- 
can people. 

This  great  book  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers  and  depart- 
ment stores  everywhere,  or  it  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postpaid, 
on  receipt  of  price  by 

J.  S.  0 GIL  VIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

57  BOSE  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


Under  the  North  Star. 


A ROMANTIC  STORy. 


Founded  Upon  the  Play  of  the  Same  Name. 


BY 


GRACE  MILLER  WHITE, 

Author  of  “The  Warning  Bell,”  “Driven  From  Home' 
“Joe  Welch  the  Peddler,”  “ No  Wedding  Bells  for  Her,” 
“Sky  Farm,”  “A  Midnight  Marriage,”  “Souvenir 
Book  of  ‘’Way  Down  East’,”  “Why  Women 
Sin,”  “Human  Hearts,”  “Deserted  at  the 
Altar,”  “From  Rags  to  Riches,”  “A 
Ragged  Hero,”  “The  Holy  City,” 

Etc.,  Etc. 


Copyright,  1906,  by 
J.  S.  Ogilvie  Publishing  Company. 


New  York: 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

57  Rose  Street. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/undernorthstarroOOwhit 


Clarence  Bennett  as  Richard  Warden. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Clara  Benton’s  idea  of  living  was  limited.  It 
had  been  her  own  choice  that  she  should  live  at 
home  with  her  father  rather  than  go  to  the  city 
to  visit.  Her  aunts  wrote  appealing  letters  urg- 
ing that  a young  girl  could  not  exist  in  that  town 
of  Kent;  that  her  life  would  be  dwarfed  by  its 
very  surroundings  and  environs.  The  city  offered 
so  many  opportunities,  so  many  chances  for  a 
pure,  charming  girl  such  as  Clara  had  always 
been.  The  discussion  came  up  one  morning  soon 
after  they  had  settled  in  the  beautiful  old  house 
that  had  been  chosen  for  its  nearness  to  the  pine 
country,  as  Mr.  Benton’s  health  was  in  bad  con- 
dition. 

“I  won’t  go  away  and  leave  you,  daddy,”  cried 
Clara,  passionately.  “Can’t  a girl  stay  with  her 
father  if  she  so  chooses?” 

Mr.  Benton  fingered  his  sister’s  letter  for  a 

3 


804553 


4 UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

moment  without  answering,  and  Clara  saw  the 
light  of  indecision  upon  his  face. 

“You  see,”  he  began,  seriously,  “I  don’t  want 
to  do  anything  that  is  going  to  restrict  your  fu- 
ture life.  Your  aunt  says  that  she  has  diligently 
inquired  and  knows  positively  that  there  is  not 
one  eligible  man  in  this  county.  She  says” — 
here  the  speaker  looked  at  the  letter  he  held — 
“that  a family  lives  near  here  reputed  to  be 
wealthy,  with  one  son,  a wild,  headstrong  boy, 
and  that  when  he  goes  to  the  city  for  a few 
months  Kent  is  more  than  well  represented.  She 
implores  that  I should  send  you  immediately, 
saying  that  she  would  undertake  your  wardrobe, 
adding  that  you  knew  she  loved  you  dearly.” 

Mr.  Benton  stopped  reading  and  leaned  back 
with  a sigh  in  his  chair.  His  face  had  whitened 
as  he  read,  and  the  lines  about  his  mouth  were 
tightly  drawn,  as  if  he  suffered  and  did  not  wisli 
the  world  to  know. 

Clara  noted  it  with  a stinging  pain  at  her 
heart.  She  got  up  quickly  and  came  to  his  side. 

“Daddy,”  she  pleaded,  with  genuine  tears  in 
her  eyes,  “if  you  send  me  away  from  you  now 
I shall  simply  die  in  the  city  alone.  I will  stay 
with  you.” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  g 

The  lines  so  tightly  drawn  seemed  to  grow  less 
tense  and  a smile  gathered  in  the  corners  of  the 
old  gentleman’s  mouth. 

“God  knows,  Clara,  that  I need  you  more  than 
my  lips  can  tell ; but  I cannot  blast  your  future, 
nor  take  away  opportunities  which  come  only 
once  to  a girl.” 

“What  opportunities?”  asked  Clara,  half  de- 
fiantly. 

“Those  of  your  getting  married.” 

Clara’s  mind  worked  quickly  over  the  situa- 
tion. She  knew  that  she  must  dissuade  her  father 
from  the  idea  in  her  aunt’s  letter,  or  she  would 
be  bundled  off  to  the  city  without  a yes  or  no 
from  herself.  This  she  did  not  intend  to  have. 
So  she  cuddled  more  confidentially  toward  her 
father  and  whispered : 

“And  if  I tell  you,  dear,  that  I never  intend  to 
get  married ; that  I want  to  stay  with  you  in  this 
dear  old  house  and  have  my  horses  and  dogs,  and 
that  I shall  be  perfectly  happy,  won’t  you  please 
let  me  stay?  Unless” — here  she  arose  with  a lit- 
tle show  of  dignity — “unless  you  would  rather 
have  me  away.” 

Mr.  Benton  laughed  happily.  He  took  the  rosy 


0 UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

face  between  bis  hands  and  looked  deep  into  the 
pleading  eyes. 

“You  shall  stay  with  your  daddy,”  he  said,  de- 
cidedly ; “only  promising  me  this,  that  if  you  get 
■weary  of  the  flowers,  of  your  horse,  of  the  long, 
white  roads,  and,  worse  still,  of  me,  then  I would 
deem  it  a favor  for  you  to  tell  me.” 

His  voice  had  lowered  in  the  last  half  of  his 
sentence  and  tears  gathered  in  the  proud  old 
man’s  eyes. 

“I  shall  not  be  tired,”  replied  the  girl.  “And 
now  give  me  that  letter,  for  I shall  answer  it.” 

Accordingly,  that  day  a letter  was  on  its  way 
with  a decided  refusal  from  Clara  to  leave  her 
father,  adding  that  she  was  perfectly  happy  and 
did  not  wish  her  aunt  to  trouble  her  parent  with 
vain  urgings.  Once,  when  she  was  rereading  the 
words,  “There  is  a son  of  a family  near  you,  so 

1 hear,  who  makes  all  London  blush  when  he 
comes  to  the  city,”  Clara  wondered  who  he  was 
and  in  what  direction  his  home  lay,  and  tried  to 
imagine  just  how  he  looked.  His  hair  would,  of 
course,  be  worn  long  and  flowing  in  reddish  locks 
about  his  neck.  Clara’s  imagination  was  very 
vivid,  and  before  the  end  of  the  morning  she  had 
made  herself  believe  that  she  should  like  this 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  J 

mysterious  young  man  who  could  make  wicked 
London  blush,  and  in  her  girlish  innocence  she 
wondered  just  how  he  went  about  it.  But  she 
soon  forgot  him  and  London,  for  the  old,  ram- 
bling house  was  filled  with  quaint  nooks,  and 
Clara  dreamed  that  she  saw  the  old  ghosts  of  the 
departed  wandering  about  in  the  familiar  rooms. 
She  stood  long  before  the  pictures  of  stately 
women  and  dignified  men,  trying  to  imagine  what 
their  lives  had  been. 

Then  she  went  to  the  stables.  The  sun  had 
risen  to  its  full  splendor,  and  Clara  knew  that 
no  other  place  in  all  the  world  could  be  more 
beautiful.  She  was  a child  of  nature  and  had 
learned  her  few  lessons  from  Mother  Earth.  Bet- 
ter had  she  learned  a few  heart  lessons,  for  to 
every  girl  of  the  type  of  Clara  Benton  they  come 
sooner  or  later.  Now  she  was  wholly  absorbed 
as  to  just  how  to  make  her  father  happy — to  see 
the  smiles  return  to  his  face.  She  remembered 
the  morning,  only  a few  months  before,  how 
weary  he  had  looked  when  he  told  her  that  the 
famous  London  surgeon  had  said  that  he  would 
not  live  if  a more  favorable  climate  southward 
were  not  found  for  him.  The  tears  gathered 
slowly  in  the  girl’s  eyes,  for  if  she  had  one  idol 


g UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

in  her  life  it  was  her  father,  her  darling,  darling 
father.  She  had  quickly  consented,  nay,  expressed 
a desire  to  find  a place  directly,  and  the  outcome 
was  Kent.  She  despised  Kent,  of  which  the  worst 
that  could  be  said  was  that  not  one  marriageable 
man  lived  in  the  neighborhood. 

Clara  was  thinking  less  of  marriage  than  of 
anything  else  just  now.  Her  heart  was  as  free 
as  the  birds  in  the  trees.  She  had  no  inward 
longings,  no  desire  for  things  different,  and  this 
condition  caused  her  to  cling  more  closely  to  her 
father  than  if  she  had  been  more  worldly-wise. 

She  entered  the  stables,  brushing  away  her 
tears.  Next  to  her  father,  she  loved  Rosabelle, 
her  high-spirited  horse.  As  she  opened  the  door 
she  heard  her  neigh  loudly.  She  knew  the  tread 
of  the  slippered  feet,  and  lifted  her  head  for  the 
sugar  Clara  never  forgot  to  have  in  her  pocket 
for  her.  She  patted  and  petted,  rubbed  and 
brushed  the  sleek  hide,  interspersing  the  pats 
with  lumps  of  sugar. 

“We’ll  take  a long  ride,”  cried  thh  girl;  and, 
suiting  the  action  to  the  words,  she  drew  a small 
saddle  from  a box  near  by  and,  without  waiting 
for  the  groom,  brought  Rosabelle  into  the  sun- 
shine, where  she  fastened  the  straps  with  her 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  9 

own  small  fingers,  and,  with  one  last  lump  of 
sugar,  she  lifted  her  foot  high  in  the  stirrup  and 
was  away  up  the  long,  white  road. 

It  was  next  to  flying,  so  Clara  imagined.  Rosa- 
belle’s  feet  flew  like  four  furry  balls  over  the 
smooth  earth.  The  animal  took  on  the  mood  of 
her  mistress.  Hours  went  by,  and  still  they  were 
going  on,  until  Clara  turned  in  her  saddle  to 
view  the  country.  It  lay  before  her,  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach,  filled  with  rolling  hills  and  cor- 
responding valleys. 

Here  and  there  farms,  well  kept,  stretched  un- 
til a high  fence  told  of  another.  Estates  belong- 
ing to  wealthy  men  differed  only  in  the  huge 
stables  and  the  immense  Gothic  houses,  which 
had  been  handed  down  from  father  to  son.  Clara 
had  never  seen  a more  beautiful  scene.  Suddenly 
the  thought  came  into  her  mind  that  one  of  these 
places  must  be  the  home  of  the  boy  who  went  to 
London  once  a year.  Which  one?  she  asked  of 
herself;  and  then  she  readily  forgot  him  again 
and  turned  toward  home.  Her  father  was  wait- 
ing for  her  rather  anxiously,  fearing  that  she 
might  have  met  with  an  accident  during  her  ride. 
A groom  took  Rosabelle,  and  Clara,  with  her 
father’s  arm  about  her,  went  in  to  dinner.  Her 


10  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

heart  was  filled  with  rejoicing.  She  was  the  one 
human  being  in  this  man’s  life  that  he  loved  with- 
out measure,  and  she  returned  his  love  and  devo- 
tion. At  an  early  date  she  had  lost  her  mother, 
and  her  father  had  filled  the  gap  death  had  made. 

During  dinner  she  described  what  she  had 
seen. 

“We’ll  take  that  old  family  carriage,”  said 
Clara,  “and  we’ll  ride  for  miles  and  miles,  daddy. 
The  idea  of  any  one  wanting  me  to  go  to  London, 
when  I can  live  here  with  you !” 

Mr.  Benton  smiled  feebly,  and  Clara  noticed  it. 
“You  are  ill  to-night,”  she  cried,  sharply,  com- 
ing to  his  side.  “You  will  always  tell  me  when 
you  do  not  feel  as  well  as  usual,  won’t  you?” 

“I  assure  you,  child,”  said  Mr.  Benton,  “that 
I am  only  a little  out  of  sorts  to-night.  Your 
aunt’s  letter  made  more  of  an  impression  than 
I am  willing  to  admit.  But,  there,  we  settled 
that  long  ago ; did  we  not?” 

He  spoke  these  soothing  words  because  a look 
of  pain  and  remorse  had  come  quickly  into  the 
face  that  he  loved  so  devotedly. 

“I  shouldn’t  have  gone  to  ride  to-day,”  cried 
Clara.  “Oh,  I should  not  have  left  you,  my  dar- 
ling!” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^ 

“It  is  nothing,  nothing,  Clara,”  replied  her 
father,  “but  one  of  the  old  attacks.  James  gave 
me  my  medicine,  and  now  I am  all  right.” 

But  for  many  days  after  this  the  old  gentleman 
was  ill.  Clara  hoped  and  prayed  that  he  would 
speedily  get  well.  Her  poor  little  heart  ached 
with  longing  and  sorrow  every  time  she  looked 
into  his  pain-laden  face.  But  there  came  a day 
when  Mr.  Benton  rose  from  his  bed,  and  lie  and 
Clara  carried  out  her  promise  that  they  would 
ride  through  the  country.  It  was  toward  the  end 
of  the  week  when,  one  morning,  Clara  took  her 
father,  warmly  wrapped — for  the  days  were  get- 
ting cold — into  the  long,  white  road,  over  which 
she  had  traveled  but  once.  She  pointed  out  the 
things  of  beauty,  and  was  rewarded  by  a smile 
of  pleasure  coming  into  the  white,  worn  face.  As 
they  turned  toward  home,  Clara  noticed  a horse- 
man coming  at  an  exceedingly  rapid  rate  toward 
them.  But  upon  seeing  their  carriage  he  halted 
and  took  a hasty  survey  of  its  inmates.  His  eyes 
lingered  long  upon  the  pretty  face  of  the  girl. 
Clara  could  describe  him  accurately  to  herself 
afterward.  Of  course,  this  dark  young  man  was 
not  the  rogue  from  London,  that  she  was  sure  of, 
for  where  were  his  auburn  locks  and  the  bright 


22  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

blue  eyes  in  her  imagination?  These  belonged 
alone  to  the  young  man  of  whom  her  aunt  had 
spoken  in  her  letter.  This  fellow  was  as  dark 
as  the  darkest  night.  His  eyes  blazed  black  under 
the  dark  lashes,  and  the  straight  hair  had  been 
cropped  close  to  his  well-shaped  head.  He  rode 
his  horse  splendidly ; but  Clara  felt  rather  afraid 
of  the  expression  in  the  masterful  darkness  of  his 
eyes,  and  she  was  glad  when  the  carriage  passed. 
But  she  felt  forced  to  turn,  and  saw  that  the 
rider  was  doing  the  same.  He  raised  his  hat,  put 
the  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 
All  through  the  evening  Clara  felt  distressed. 
She  should  not  have  turned  around.  It  was  rude 
and  inexcusable  on  her  part.  However,  she  did 
not  mention  the  matter  to  her  father,  and,  as  the 
old  gentleman  did  not  feel  so  well  during  the 
evening,  tending  to  him  put  the  episode  out  of 
her  mind. 

But  it  had  an  opportunity  to  return  before  the 
next  twenty-four  hours.  The  following  morning 
her  father  felt  so  much  better  that  he  urged  her 
to  take  a short  ride  on  Rosabelle.  And  when  the 
girl  had  repeatedly  shaken  her  head,  her  father 
had  gone  to  the  extreme  measure  of  threatening 
to  send  her  to  London  if  she  did  not  go  out  every 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^3 

day  and  get  what  little  pleasure  the  country  af- 
forded. So  she  rode  slowly  out  into  the  open 
country  road  and  did  not  urge  her  horse  to  a run. 
She  wanted  to  think.  They  had  come  into  this 
new  town  for  the  health  of  her  dear  one,  and  yet 
she  had  never  seen  him  in  a worse  spell  than  that 
of  the  night  before.  Tears  gathered  in  the  bright 
eyes.  How  could  she  endure  to  see  him  suffer 
when  she  loved  him  so?  With  these  thoughts  in 
her  mind,  and  her  heart  leaping  with  fear,  she 
did  not  notice  that  some  one  had  ridden  up  close 
to  her  side. 

“You  will  pardon  me,”  said  a deep  voice.  “The 
strap  underneath  your  horse  is  loose.  May  I ar- 
range it  for  you?” 

Turning,  Clara  saw  the  dark-faced  young  man 
who  had  looked  back  at  her  the  day  before.  Some- 
thing in  his  voice  caused  her  to  accede  to  his  re- 
quest. He  leaped  from  his  saddle  and  in  a twink- 
ling had  girded  Rosabelle  as  she  should  have 
been.  Clara  felt  the  blood  creeping  to  her  face. 
She  felt  somehow  that  she  owed  this  young  man 
an  apology  for  staring  about  at  him;  but,  then, 
he  had  done  the  same  to  her.  This  thought  turned 
out  the  desire  to  tell  him  that  she  regretted  her 
action,  and  without  a word  he  again  vaulted  into 


14  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR, 

his  saddle.  But  he  did  not  leave  Clara,  as  she 
expected  he  would. 

“I  believe  you  have  taken  Kent  Manor,  have 
you  not?”  he  asked,  as  they  rode  slowly  along. 
“I  thought  I remembered  the  old  family  carriage 
you  were  in  yesterday.  And  I heard  that  it  had 
been  rented.” 

He  gave  this  long  speech  because  he  saw  that 
Clara’s  lips  were  tightly  closed,  and  he  did  not 
want  an  awkward  pause.  The  moment  he  had 
seen  her  riding  he  had  decided  to  make  friends 
with  her.  Clara  nodded  her  head  in  answer  to 
his  question.  But  she  did  not  speak.  Seeing  her 
shyness,  he  went  on : 

“You  have  the  finest  place  about  here,  with  the 
exception  of  ours,  which  is  larger  and  the  house 
more  commodious.” 

Here  he  paused  and  laughed  a little. 

“I  could  almost  tell  you  what  is  in  your  mind 
now  at  this  moment — the  story  of  the  crow: 
‘Every  old  crow,’  ” and  he  hummed  the  tune, 
which  Clara  had  heard  so  many  times. 

This  made  her  smile.  She  fancied  she  would 
rather  like  this  young  man  with  his  large  quan- 
tity of  nerve.  She  always  had  thought  that  if  a 
knight  should  come  riding  to  her,  some  far  future 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  yg 

day,  he  would  have  to  take  her  heart  by  storm, 
for  he  could  win  her  no  other  way.  But  after 
she  had  told  the  story  of  her  father’s  illness,  and 
of  their  coming  to  Kent  because  of  Mr.  Benton’s 
bad  health,  she  turned  to  listen  to  something 
about  himself  with  interest. 

“This  has  been  my  home  always.  I seldom 
leave,  unless  for  the  few  months  in  winter  I run 
up  to  London.  I have  some  dear  old  aunts  there, 
and  I know  I make  their  lives  miserable  while 
I’m  with  them,  for  they  told  my  father  that  their 
days  would  be  shortened  worrying  about  me.  I’m 
sorry  for  them,  but  a fellow  must  have  a little 
fun  once  in  a while.” 

So,  then,  this  was  the  young  man  who  made 
London  suffer  from  shame — this  dignified,  dark 
young  man,  who  seemed  now,  as  he  rode  upon  his 
black  horse,  the  very  essence  of  propriety. 

“Where  do  your  aunts  live?”  asked  the  girl, 
lightly. 

“Well,  the  fact  is,  they  are  outside  of  the  city 
a small  distance,  and,  of  course,  it  takes  me  a 
time  to  get  home  early  in  the  morning.  And,  be- 
lieve me,  they  sit  up  until  the  break  of  dawn 
waiting  for  me  to  put  in  an  appearance.” 

“And  you  always  do?”  questioned  Clara,  grave- 


IQ  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

ly,  not  smiling  at  the  grief  of  the  old  ladies  oyer 
their  dissolute  nephew. 

“No,”  reluctantly  replied  the  young  man ; “not 
always.  I say  that  they  should  be  reasonable 
with  me  and  let  me  take  my  own  gait.  A fellow 
has  to  sow  his  wild  oats  some  time,  and  if  not 
before  he  is  married,  then  afterward.  I am  sow- 
ing mine  before.” 

Clara  shuddered.  She  had  always  been  directly 
opposed  to  such  a doctrine.  Why  should  a man 
dare  to  say  that  he  had  to  do  wicked  things,  and 
then  frown  down  upon  the  girl  who  did  the  same? 
She  was  losing  a certain  amount  of  respect  for 
her  dark  companion,  whose  name  she  had  not 
heard. 

“But,  there,”  he  said,  looking  into  her  face  and 
reading  her  antagonistic  thoughts,  “you  don’t 
believe  in  the  old  adage  that  boys  will  be  boys?” 

Clara  shook  her  head  negatively. 

“I  have  always  contended,”  she  replied,  in  a 
low  tone,  “that  it  was  the  moral  duty  of  every 
man  to  be  as  good  as  he  demanded  his  wife  to  be.” 

A ringing  laugh  was  her  answer. 

“What  a queer  old  world  you  would  have  this 
be ! Half  of  London  would  close  its  doors  if  such 
were  the  case.”  But  nevertheless  there  came  into 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  17 

his  mind  the  shadow  of  a regret  that  he  had  not 
lived  a better  life,  because  he  thought  he  read  dis- 
approval upon  the  beautiful,  high-bred  face  near 
him. 

“You  see/’  he  went  on,  lamely,  trying  to  make 
an  excuse  for  himself,  which  he  felt  reasonably 
sure  that  Clara  would  not  accept,  “you  see,  a fel- 
low is  taught  from  the  time  he  goes  into  trousers 
that  he  is  to  have  more  liberty  than  girls.  We 
are  only,  and  always  will  be,  creatures  of  circum- 
stance and  of  our  environments.” 

Still  Clara  did  not  speak.  She  would  not  ar- 
gue with  him.  In  fact,  she  had  lost  all  admira- 
tion for  him.  But  his  for  her  was  evidently  in- 
creasing, for  he  went  on  quickly : 

“I  don’t  want  to  defend  a man  for  ill-treating 
a woman — you  must  see  that;  but  I am  just  try- 
ing to  explain  that  a man  must  have  some  experi- 
ence before  he  can  make  a good  husband.” 

“I  know  what  you  are  trying  to  explain,”  re- 
plied Clara,  without  a shadow  of  a smile  upon 
her  face. 

“And  you  do  not  agree  with  me?” 

“No — indeed  not.  I should  be  sorry  if  I should 
ever  change  my  mind  upon  that  point.” 

“Then  you  mean  that  if  a man  could  not  assure 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

you  that  he  was  in  the  past  as  good  as  you  are 
yourself  you  would  not  marry  him?” 

“I  would  not  ask  him  to  assure  me.  I should 
know.  There  is  a saying,  you  know,  that  murder 
will  out,  and  so  it  will.” 

They  had  lowered  the  gait  of  their  horses  until 
now  they  were  walking.  Beyond  lay  the  small 
town  of  Kent,  and  once  Clara  lifted  her  eyes  and 
could  see  the  house  in  which  she  and  her  father 
lived  so  happily  together,  and  her  heart  thrilled 
with  thanksgiving,  for  here  was  a being  who  was 
absolutely  true  to  her  in  thought  and  deed,  and 
she  loved  him  always,  for  she  knew  that  he  had 
been  true  to  her  mother.  She  remembered  that 
day  when,  dying,  lmr  mother  had  clasped  the 
hand  of  her  husband  and,  after  consigning  the 
welfare  of  their  child  to  him,  had  said : 

“Thank  you,  darling  husband,  for  being  so 
true,  so  upright  and  gifted  always,  and  for  mak- 
ing my  life  a paradise  upon  earth.” 

Clara  remembered  this  as  if  it  had  been  said 
yesterday.  And  now  again  she  shuddered  as  she 
wondered  what  kind  of  a life  the  woman  would 
lead  who  would  take  this  handsome  black-eyed 
stranger  at  her  side  for  better  or  for  worse,  for 
as  long  as  they  both  should  live. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


19 


CHAPTER  II. 

“I  HAVE  not  told  you  my  name,  nor  you  me 
yours.  I should  like  to  know  your  father.  I be- 
lieve we  could  become  better  friends;  could  we 
not?” 

Clara  inclined  her  head.  She  had  no  objec- 
tions to  remaining  friends  with  this  young  stran- 
ger ; in  fact,  she  rather  wished  it.  But  she  would 
ask  her  father  if  he  might  be  allowed  to  come  to 
the  house. 

“It  is  my  father’s  home,”  replied  the  girl,  “but 
I am  sure  that  you  are  welcome.  My  name  is 
Clara  Benton.” 

“Clara  Benton.  Clara  Benton.” 

He  repeated  the  name  twice,  lingering  over  the 
last  words  as  a nun  might  linger  over  her  beads, 
lovingly. 

“My  name  is  Richard  Wardon,”  he  added,  as 
the  girl  held  out  her  hand.  “I  shall  do  myself 
the  honor  of  visiting  your  father  in  the  very  near 
future.” 

Clara  watched  him  as  he  cantered  away,  and 


20  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

she  was  still  watching  him  as  he  turned  in  his 
saddle  and,  seeing  her,  lifted  his  hat  and  disap- 
peared. She  told  her  father  of  the  experience, 
and  Clara  thought  she  read  a slight  disapproval 
in  his  face  as  she  recounted  what  had  been  said  to 
her.  But  when  she  repeated  that  he  was  coming 
to  call  upon  him,  Mr.  Benton’s  face  relaxed  a 
little. 

“You  must  be  careful,  my  child,”  he  chided, 
“about  making  the  acquaintance  of  strangers  in 
a country  of  which  you  know  nothing.  I fear  for 
your  charming,  friendly  nature.  You  have  no 
idea  that  there  is  great  wickedness  in  the  world.” 

“Yes,  I have,  daddy,”  replied  the  girl.  “I  be- 
lieve that  this  young  man  is  very  wicked  when 
he  goes  to  London.  He  makes  his  aunties  sit  up 
all  night  for  him,  and  then  does  not  come  home 
at  all.” 

“Did  he  tell  you  this?”  interrogated  Mr.  Ben- 
ton. 

“Yes;  and  I told  him  I thought  a man  ought 
to  be  as  good  as  the  woman  he  expected  to 
marry.” 

“Your  conversation  grew  rather  personal, 
didn’t  it,  dear?”  asked  Clara’s  father,  drily. 
“What  else  did  he  say?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  £1 

“That  young  men  were  better  for  sowing  their 
wild  oats.  That  they  would  do  it  some  time  or 
other,  and  before  marriage  was  better  than  after- 
ward.” 

“Rubbish!”  ejaculated  Mr.  Benton.  “That’s 
an  idea  that  long  ago  exploded,  and  many  good 
countries  went  with  it.  In  my  opinion,  there  is 
as  much  need  for  a man  to  be  good  as  for  a 
woman.” 

“I  think  so,  too,”  replied  Clara,  “and  I was  not 
afraid  to  tell  him  so.  He  thought  at  first,  I think, 
that  I would  laugh  at  the  manner  in  which  he 
treated  his  poor  old  aunts,  but  I didn’t.  But  he 
is  coming  to  call,  and  maybe  he  won’t  be  so  bad, 
after  all.” 

“And  we  can’t  expect  all  the  world  to  think  in 
the  same  way  we  do,  can  we,  birdie?  There,  now, 
run  to  bed  and  get  your  beauty-sleep,  or  the  roses 

will  fade  from  your  cheeks.” 

******* 

In  another  home  about  a mile  distant  a young 
man  stood  with  his  back  turned  toward  a grate 
fire.  He  was  tall,  straight  and  lithe  of  limb, 
while  his  black  eyes  were  dreamily  fixed  upon  a 
large  setter  dog  lying  at  his  feet. 

“A  penny  for  your  thoughts,  Dick,”  said  a 


22  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

handsome  elderly  gentleman,  near  enough  like 
the  younger  one  to  know  that  they  were  father 
and  son. 

‘■What  sort  of  folks  live  in  the  manor,  do  you 
know,  father?”  Dick  asked,  without  heeding  the 
old  adage. 

“I’ve  heard  they  were  very  nice,”  was  the  re- 
ply, “although  I know  nothing  of  them;  father 
and  daughter,  so  the  butler  says.  You  know,  he 
is  a brother  to  James,  who  is  over  there.” 

Dick  nodded  with  an  air  of  question. 

Seeing  his  interest,  Mr.  Wardon  continued : 

“The  servants  will  gossip,  you  know,  Dick,  and 
from  them  I learned  that  the  daughter  is  a 
beauty,  while  the  old  man  is  an  invalid  and  not 
expected  to  live  long.  James  says  that  the  girl 
is  devoted  to  her  father.” 

“I  can  believe  it,”  replied  Dick;  and,  although 
his  father  glanced  keenly  at  him,  he  gave  no  fur- 
ther information. 

The  subject  was  changed  almost  instantly. 

“I  suppose  you  will  get  ready  for  London 
soon  ?.”  asked  the  old  man,  later. 

“I’ve  rather  changed  my  mind  about  London 
this  winter,  father,  and  I suppose  Aunt  Maria 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  £3 

will  be  disappointed.”  And  here  the  ringing 
laugh  echoed  through  the  room. 

The  father  laughed  also.  He  seemed  to  be  one 
in  sympathy  with  this  handsome  son  of  his. 

“Your  aunts  say  a great  deal  more  than  they 
mean.  However,  if  they  restrict  you  too  much  in 
your  pleasures,  you  may  have  an  apartment  of 
your  own.  That  way  you  could  do  as  you  please.” 
The  color  flooded  into  the  dark  face  of  Dick 
Wardon  as  he  remembered  a beautiful,  proud 
face,  so  grave  in  its  innocence  and  youth.  He 
would  have  given  worlds  then  to  be  able  to  say 
that  his  life  had  been  along  the  same  lines  as  her 
own. 

“I  don’t  think  I shall  go  to  London  this  sea- 
son,” he  said,  after  a few  moments’  silence.  “I’m 
getting  tired  of  the  same  old  thing.  May  I have 
a few  friends  down  here?” 

Before  replying,  the  father  looked  at  the  son 
as  if  he  thought  that  he  had  taken  leave  of  his 
senses.  Then  he  replied  slowly : 

“Dick,  you  may  do  as  you  like.  But  after  so 
many  seasons  in  London  you  will  be  lonely,  I 
know.  Is  there  any  reason  why  you  should  not 
go  to  London?” 


24 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


There  was  a suspicious  ring  in  the  father’s 
tones,  and  he  looked  inquiringly  at  his  son. 

“None  whatever,”  was  the  curt  reply.  “I  may 
be  settling  down;  who  knows?”  And  again  a 
sweet  face,  the  sweetest  Richard  Wardon  had 
ever  seen,  floated  about  in  his  cigar  smoke.  He 
said  no  more  about  London,  but  his  father  no- 
ticed that  he  began  to  prepare  for  the  winter  in 
the  country.  It  must  have  been  as  Richard  had 
said — he  was  settling  down.  Then  the  fears  of 
all  the  female  portion  of  the  family  had  been  for 
naught.  For  a long  time  after  Richard  had  gone 
to  bed  the  father  sat  thinking  of  his  son.  This 
boy  was  all  that  was  left  to  him  out  of  a lot  of 
children.  Even  the  mother  had  been  taken. 

He  had  known  all  along  that,  although  the  boy 
was  rash,  he  was  not  bad  at  heart.  He  was  al- 
most glad  that  Dick  had  decided  to  stay  at  home 
that  year.  It  would  put  the  lie  in  the  teeth  of  his 
enemies  that  he  cared  for  nothing  but  rioting. 
But  never  did  it  occur  to  this  man  that  the  boy 
whom  he  idolized  had  met  his  fate  that  very  day 
upon  the  broad,  smooth  road  in  the  shape  of  the 
pretty  daughter  of  the  sick  man  of  the  manor. 

(.  In  his  chamber  Richard  Wardon  was  taking  a 
solemn  oath.  “For  her  sake,”  he  was  saying 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  25 

feverishly  to  himself,  “I  will  live  down  that  Lon- 
don past.  She  will  never  know  just  how  bad  it 
was,  for  I shall  keep  her  from  those  who  might 
tell  her.  I will  show  Clara  Benton  that  I can 
be  a man  and  have  repentance  enough  to  live 
above  what  has  gone  by.” 

That  night  he  dreamed  that  Clara  came  to  him 
and  said  that  she  loved  another ; that  his  life  had 
been  such  that  she  could  not  blend  hers  with  his. 
And  he  remembered  long  afterward  the  agony  of 
that  moment  when  he  had  awakened,  and  the 
dream  had  been  so  vivid  that  it  had  seemed  true. 
He  sobbed  aloud  in  thanksgiving,  and  it  wras  a 
long  time  before  he  could  settle  his  thoughts  to 
sleep. 

Clara,  in  her  bed,  also  dreamed  of  him  ; but  it 
was  with  a shudder  and  not  a sigh  that  she 
awoke. 

“I  saw  another  face,”  she  whispered  to  herself, 
“a,  good  face.  How  I should  love  to  see  that  face 
again !” 

Alas  for  the  fate  of  Dick  Wardon!  The  girl 
dropped  asleep  with  a satisfied  sigh  that  dreams 
always  went  by  contrariwise,  and  that  probably 
he  had  a little  girl  somewhere  whom  he  loved,  or 


26  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

maybe  be  looked  at  all  attractive  girls  as  be  had 
looked  at  her. 

******* 

The  winter  opened,  and,  although  it  was  mild, 
yet  it  was  necessary  to  have  fires.  Clara  was 
beginning  to  become  acquainted  with  some  of  the 
young  people  of  the  country  round  about,  but 
she  always  found  that  wherever  she  went  Richard 
Wardon  was  her  escort.  She  was  growing  to  like 
him  better,  for  had  he  not  given  up  going  to  Lon- 
don? Maybe  he  was  not  so  bad,  after  all,  and  the 
old  maid  aunts  had  made  a mistake.  He  was  an 
excellent  escort,  dancing  beautifully,  and  always 
ready  to  obey  her  slightest  wish,  until  Clara  al- 
most desired  that  he  would  differ  with  her  in 
some  things;  but  she  never  reasoned  to  herself 
that  he  was  in  love  with  her.  In  fact,  he  had  kept 
his  lips  sealed  all  through  the  winter  months  to 
give  her  a chance  to  forget  that  he  had  lived  in 
London  in  a manner  that  she  disapproved  of.  He 
knew  now  that  he  would  not  have  her  think  other- 
wise. She  was  too  good  and  too  pure  to  condone 
sin  even  in  the  man  she  might  love.  Her  father’s 
improving  health  gave  Clara  happier  days,  but 
she  always  refused  to  leave  him  when  she  saw  the 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  27 

lines  tighten  about  his  lips  or  a fatigued  expres- 
sion come  over  his  face. 

But  when  his  eyes  sparkled  and  his  hand  was 
moist  she  would  yield  to  his  importunities  and 
go  with  Richard  to  ride  or  to  a dance,  where 
merrymaking  was  the  occupation  of  the  hour. 

So  when  the  day  came  that  he  told  her  of  his 
love  she  was  stunned,  hurt,  and  severely  proud, 
imagining  that  he  could  be  her  constant  com- 
panion for  so  many  beautiful  months  and  come 
out  heart-whole.  She  had  done  it,  why  not  he? 
Her  father  was  daily  growing  stronger  and  every- 
thing was  in  a happy  state.  She  had  noticed  that 
Richard  always  protected  her  in  every  way,  but, 
then,  she  believed  that  she  would  have  done  the 
same  for  him.  How  many  times  she  had  enter- 
tained him  highly,  and  had  even  forbidden  the 
servants  to  wait  upon  him.  They  had  been  to  a 
party,  and  had  come  home  early  because  Clara 
had  worried  a little  about  her  father.  The  hour 
being  reasonable,  she  had  asked  her  escort  to  stay 
an  hour  or  so.  Here  he  took  the  opportunity. 
Mr.  Benton  had  retired  and  Clara  had  assured 
herself  that  he  was  sleeping  nicely,  and  she  was 
sitting  very  quietly  in  the  cosy  library,  where  a 
wood  fire  threw  out  its  grateful  heat. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


28 

“Clara,”  began  Richard,  “we  have  known  each 
other  a very  long  time.” 

“Have  we?”  she  murmured,  frankly.  “It  seems 
always  to  me.  I believe,  Dick,  you  are  one  of 
those  chaps  that  a girl  feels  at  home  with  almost 
as  soon  as  she  meets  him.” 

“Do  you,  Clara?”  exclaimed  Dick,  delightedly. 
“I’ve  wanted  you  to  feel  that  wav,  for,  Clara,  I 
want  you  to  marry  me.  You  see,”  he  went  on, 
hastily,  “I’m  awfully  sorry  about  those  thought- 
less and  foolish  words  I spoke  the  first  day  I met 
you.  I know  they’ve  always  been  upon  your 
mind.  But  I can  live  that  down — I know  I can. 
London  is  a big  place,  and  I wasn’t  any  worse 
than  many  other  fellows  there.” 

There  was  something  in  her  face  that  startled 
him — something  that  gave  him  misgivings  and 
sent  the  blood  into  his  face  warmly.  It  was  a 
mingling  of  friendship  without  love,  disapproval, 
and,  most  of  all,  regret.  It  was  as  if  she  looked 
upon  the  last  of  her  happy  winter  as  if  she  were 
saying  good-bye  to  a dead  friend. 

“Clara,  if  you  tell  me  that  you  don’t  love  me, 
I don’t  know  what  I won’t  do.  I’m  such  a reck- 
less devil.” 

“Go  back  to  London  and  do  worse  than  be- 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  29 

fore?”  she  asked,  bitterly,  rising  also.  “There, 
Dick,  that  was  unkind  of  me  to  say  that.  I do 
beg  your  pardon ; but  don’t  let’s  speak  of  it  again. 
I don’t  love  you  the  way  you  do  me,  and  can’t 
you  forget  for  a time  that  you  have  spoken  ?” 

“No,  I can’t,”  replied  Dick,  a dangerous  light 
leaping  into  his  eyes.  “I  simply  cannot.  You 
must  love  me,  Clara,  you  must !” 

He  was  down  at  her  side  now,  his  voice  filled 
with  desperate  appeal,  his  eyes  pleading  for  his 
happiness. 

“Don’t,  Dick,”  begged  the  girl ; “don’t.  I can’t 
change  my  heart  any  more  than  can  you.  Wait 
a while  and  see  if  one  of  us  does  not  change  a 
little.” 

This  was  poor  consolation,  but  Dick  had  to 
acquiesce  to  her  desire.  For  many  days  they 
were  both  miserable,  and  the  father  of  each  noted 
the  difference  in  his  child. 

One  evening  Dick  said  to  Clara  : 

“If  I could  do  something  to  make  you  love 

me ” and  here  he  halted. 

“Maybe  I should  if  you  did  something,”  and 
ever  afterward  the  girl  repented  her  words.  Sud- 
denly there  leaped  into  her  mind  a queer  sensa- 
tion and  her  eyes  took  on  an  unseeing  look.  She 


3Q  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

began  to  talk  in  a rambling  manner.  When  she 
aroused  herself  Dick  was  shaking  her  furiously, 
and  her  eyes  were  blood-red. 

“Clara,  what  were  you  saying?  Your  face  is 
still  pale.  What  about  boats  and  such  things?” 

The  girl  rubbed  her  eyes  and  looked  steadily. 

“I  was  looking  into  the  future,”  she  said,  with 
a sorry  smile,  “and  I saw  you  far  away  from  all 
you  love,  and  you  were  working  to  live  down  your 
past.” 

“For  you?”  he  asked,  forlornly. 

She  nodded  her  head. 

“And  that’s  what  I shall  do,”  he  replied  quick- 
ly. “You  shall  see  me  a man  some  of  these 
days,  a real  man,  one  for  whom  you  shall  not  have 
the  blush  of  shame  upon  your  face.” 

He  turned  away,  and  Clara  realized  after  he 
had  gone  that  it  had  been  a sob  she  had  heard  in 
his  voice.  Before  she  could  say  anything  the 
man  had  disappeared,  and  Clara  Benton  knew 
that  she  had  had  a glimpse  of  the  future,  knew 
that  some  state  had  been  placed  upon  her  where- 
by she  had  looked  into  the  coming  days  of  her 
lover.  It  had  left  her  weak  and  tired,  and  after 
she  had  gone  to  bed  she  lay  thinking  a long  time 
over  what  she  had  seen.  To-morrow  she  would 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  31 

tell  Richard  that  he  must  never  think  of  her  as 
his  wife,  that,  she  did  not  love  him  and  desired 
him  only  as  a friend.  But  this  she  knew  would 
pain  him,  but  better  be  truthful  than  deceitful. 
With  these  thoughts  in  her  mind  she  dropped 
into  a feverish  sleep,  and  did  not  awaken  until 
her  maid  was  tapping  upon  the  door. 

* <3 f * * * * * 

When  Richard  Wardon  reached  home  he  found 
his  father  still  reading  in  the  library.  His  fine 
face  lighted  up  with  genuine  pleasure  when  he 
saw  who  his  visitor  was. 

“I  may  come  in?”  and  without  waiting  Rich- 
ard was  seated  beside  Mr.  Wardon  in  front  of 
the  grate  fire. 

Suddenly  the  elder  man  noticed  the  odd  expres- 
sion of  his  son’s  face. 

“Something  has  happened,”  he  said,  slowly. 
“I’m  sure  it’s  something  dreadful.” 

He  half  arose,  but  Dick  motioned  him  to  be 

seated. 

“ ’Tis  nothing ; only  I have  had  a shock.  I 
asked  Miss  Benton  to  marry  me  and — she — has 
refused.” 

“Refused  you !”  ejaculated  Wardon.  “That 
girl  refused  you !” 


32 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


“Yes.  ’Twas  her  right,  wasn’t  it?” 

“But  think  of  it.  Her  father  can’t  even  own  a 

place.  James  tells  me ” 

Dick  waved  his  hand  imperiously  for  silence. 
“If  she  were  as  poor  as  a church  mouse,  if  she 
had  nothing  in  the  world  but  her  own  dear  self, 
she  would  then  be  a thousand  times  too  good  for 
me.  Oh,  father,  why  didn’t  you  tell  me  that  some 
time  I would  regret  my  life  in  London?  that  some 
time  a good  woman  would  refuse  me  happiness 
because  of  it?” 

“If  that’s  the  reason,”  slowly  began  Mr.  War- 
don,  “then  she’s  a fool.  There  is  much  in  a man’s 
life  that  a woman  must  wink  at.” 

“Not  Clara  Benton’s  kind,”  replied  Dick ; “and 
the  main  question  is,  how  am  I going  to  make  a 
man  of  myself  and  win  her  love,  for  I shall  go 
to  the  dogs  if  I don’t.” 

“Whew !”  whistled  Mr.  Wardon.  “Is  it  as  bad 
as  that?  I’m  so  sorry,  so  very,  very  sorry.  But 
what  do  you  want  me  to  do?” 

“Help  me  get  a commission  of  a ship  for,  say, 
two  or  three  years,  where  I can  make  a man  of 
myself.  She  will  wait  for  me,  I know,  and  God 
knows  I would  do  more  than  that  for  her.” 

There  was  silence  for  a while,  and  Dick  noted 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  33 

that  his  father  furtively  took  out  his  handker- 
chief. 

“You’re  all  I have  left,  boy,”  said  he,  after  a 
while. 

“I  know  it,  daddy;  but  you  wouldn’t  keep  me 
home  here  with  a breaking  heart,  when  I can 
make  something  out  of  myself  and  then  be  a de- 
cent citizen  after  that?” 

The  elder  man  shook  his  head  at  the  appeal 
in  Dick’s  voice,  and  suddenly  he  got  up  and  went 
to  the  desk  and  began  drawing  papers  toward 
him.  He  handed  Dick  a letter,  and  when  he  had 
read  it  he  commanded : 

“Write  and  say  that  I accept;  that  to-morrow 
I shall  be  ready  to  start,  and  will  be  there  by  the 
time  the  steamer  is  ready.  I shall  go  up  to  Lon- 
don and  say  good-bye  to  both  the  poor  old  aunts, 
and  then ” 

Dick  had  his  father  by  the  hand,  holding  it 
close.  They  looked  into  each  other’s  eyes,  these 
two  men  who  had  been  all  in  all  one  to  the  other, 
and  then  Dick  broke  away  and  the  elder  man 
seated  himself  by  the  grate  fire  and  was  there 
long  after  the  embers  had  died  out. 

The  next  day  Clara  looked  in  vain  for  Richard. 
She  knew  that  he  would  come  soon.  She  had  not 


34  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

been  able  to  go  out  on  her  horse,  because  her 
father  had  been  a little  worse.  It  was  not  until 
the  third  day  after  Dick’s  declaration  of  love  that 
she  saw  him.  She  was  sitting  upon  the  little 
vine-covered  porch  with  her  fancy  work,  when 
he  bounded  to  her  side. 

She  rose  to  her  feet  and  held  out  her  hand. 
His  face  was  pale,  and  she  knew  that  he  had  been 
suffering. 

“Clara,  Clara,  listen.  I am  going  as  you  said — 
away  off  to  South  Africa,  and  you  are  to  wait  for 
me.  I claim  you  as  my  wife.  In  two  years  I shall 
be  back,  and  then,  God,  what  a happy  man  I 
shall  be!” 

He  only  hesitated  a moment  before  pressing  the 
girl  close  to  his  heart  and  imprinting  kiss  after 
kiss  upon  the  sweet  upturned  face.  Passion 
blazed  in  his  dark  eyes,  while  Clara  felt  that  she 
was  being  dragged  down  from  some  high  ideal 
that  had  taken  her  years  to  reach. 

In  an  instant,  before  she  could  argue  with  him, 
he  was  gone.  She  called  after  him,  but  he  did 
not  hear,  and  that  night,  when  she  sent  a note 
asking  that  she  might  see  him,  it  was  returned 
unopened,  with  only  a polite  regret  from  the  pri- 
vate secretary  of  Mr.  Wardon  that  both  gentle- 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  35 

men  had  gone  to  London  and  he  did  not  know 
when  they  would  return.  So  Clara  had  to  be  con- 
tent to  wait  until  she  could  send  a letter  ex- 
plaining just  how  it  had  happened  that  she  had 
given  him  false  hope,  if  that  was  what  he  was 
entertaining. 

Then  her  father  was  taken  very  ill.  The  house 
became  dark;  famous  men  took  up  their  abode 
there.  The  angel  of  death  entered  and  took  away 
the  beloved,  and  Clara  was  left  alone.  Poor  lit- 
tle Clara  Benton,  without  friends  or  foes,  fol- 
lowed her  father  to  his  last  resting  place,  and 
then  gathered  together  the  few  things  she  loved 
and  went  to  London  to  the  home  of  her  aunts, 
where  she  lived  the  following  year  as  one  in  a 
dream.  In  fact,  so  many  times  had  the  spells 
of  second  sight  come  to  her  that  she  had  begun 
to  feel  that  Richard  Wardon  would,  after  all, 
play  a prominent  part  in  her  life.  She  had  seen 
him  fighting  in  the  front  of  battle;  she  had  seen 
him  holding  out  his  hands  to  her,  and  once  she 
had  dreamed  with  terrible  reality  that  he  was 
forcing  her  to  the  altar  against  her  will.  She 
had  awakened  with  a shudder,  and  every  day  her 
cross  seemed  heavier  to  bear. 


36 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Clara  had  met  but  few  people,  her  deep 
mourning  keeping  her  from  entering  the  brilliant 
society  into  which  her  aunts  had  longed  to  take 
her.  The  constant  recurring  of  this  habit  of 
looking  into  the  future  was  making  the  girl  thin 
and  pale.  She  had  lost  the  high  color  which  had 
been  one  of  her  chief  charms  in  the  County  of 
Kent,  and  the  blind  old  aunts  did  not  notice  that 
there  was  anything  the  matter. 

But  there  came  to  the  house  a friend  for  whom 
Clara  had  more  than  a friendly  affection.  She 
was  the  wife  of  a lieutenant  of  the  English  navy, 
a dear,  rattling  little  woman,  whom  everybody 
loved,  and  none  found  cause  to  hate.  She  adored 
her  husband,  and  he  thought  no  less  of  her.  She 
had  chosen  Clara  Benton  as  her  own  protegee, 
and,  as  the  girl  grew  to  love  the  woman,  they  were 
much  together. 

Clara  was  now  beginning  to  go  out  a little,  as 
her  father  had  been  dead  almost  two  years.  She 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  gj 

had  left  off  the  heavy  black  with  a feeling  of  rev- 
erence in  her  heart.  Her  darling  had  never  liked 
her  in  such  grewsome  raiments;  but  it  was  the 
custom,  and  she  had  no  other  home  than  those  of 
her  relatives,  so  she  had  listened  and  dressed  her- 
self in  the  blackest  of  crepe. 

One  evening  Mrs.  Craton  called  Clara  up  on 
the  ’phone,  asking  that  she  might  be  allowed  to 
bring  one  of  her  husband’s  friends  with  her  to 
call.  She  described  him  as  being  a delightful 
fellow,  one  with  all  the  vigor  of  youth,  and  yet 
such  a reputable  past  that  any  girl  would  be  glad 
of  his  acquaintance.  Clara  was  just  beginning 
to  open  her  eyes  and  to  take  interest  in  youth 
again.  She  had  mourned  so  sincerely  for  her 
father  that  the  years  had  seemed  almost  as 
months  in  their  flight. 

Imagine  her  surprise  when  she  stood  holding 
for  an  instant  the  hand  of  a gentleman  with 
whom  she  seemed  to  have  had  an  acquaintance. 

“Lieutenant  Frank  Alden,”  announced  Mrs. 
Craton,  swelling  with  pride  as  she  presented  him. 
Where  had  Clara  seen  him  before?  She  was  so 
abstracted  that  she  considered  it  necessary  to 
explain  her  rudeness  by  saying  that  she  believed 
she  had  met  Mr.  Alden  a very  long  time  ago. 


38  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

That  gentleman  gallantly  replied  that  it  was  -im- 
possible, for  had  he  met  her  he  would  never  have 
forgotten  her.  There  was  a manner  about  him 
that  constantly  called  Richard  Wardon  to  her 
mind,  and  she  felt  a sigh  of  relief,  when  she 
looked  at  the  finely  formed  body  of  Mrs.  Craton’s 
friend,  and  his  long,  curly  locks  of  auburn  hair, 
that  she  had  been  sensible  enough  to  refuse  to 
marry  Dick.  His  passion  had  stirred  her  only 
to  disgust.  She  had  liked  him  as  a friend,  but 
not  as  a lover. 

Suddenly  as  she  stood  talking  to  the  young 
man,  whom  she  was  more  positive  than  ever  she 
had  met,  she  began  to  feel  the  dizziness  of  second 
sight.  She  was  back  in  Kent  and  living  over  the 
time  when  she  had  first  heard  of  Richard  War- 
don. Her  father  was  before  her  with  an  open 
letter.  He  was  telling  her  that  in  that  neighbor- 
hood lived  a young  man  who  was  so  wild  when  in 
London  that  the  whole  city  blushed  with  shame 
for  his  pranks. 

Then  a thought  as  to  how  he  looked  rushed  into 
her  mind,  and  Frank  Alden  was  the  very  man 
she  had  thought  to  be  Richard — the  auburn  hair, 
the  laughing  eyes,  and  the  boyish  expression; 
above  all,  the  perfect  frankness  and  honesty  with 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  39 

which  he  talked.  She  gathered  herself  together 
with  the  feeling  that  this  man  was  going  to  be 
a factor  in  her  life,  an  influence  for  good,  just 
opposite  to  that  of  Dick’s.  Her  hand  shook,  and 
those  about  her  noted  the  pallor  of  her  face. 

She  crushed,  down  the  feeling  and  with  an  ef- 
fort laughed  off  the  spell ; but  that  night  when 
she  was  alone  she  knew  that  Richard  Wardon 
and  Frank  Alden  were  to  be  the  two  influences 
in  her  life  for  good  and  evil. 

There  was  now  great  talk  of  the  Admiral’s  ball 
which  was  to  be  held  upon  the  flagship,  and  Clara 
and  Mrs.  Craton  looked  eagerly  forward  with  de- 
light to  that  event. 

The  evening  arriving,  there  was  a flutter  of  ex- 
citement among  the  female  portion  of  the  party 
as  the  officers  paraded  for  their  benefit  in  their 
full-dress  uniforms  on  the  deck  of  the  ship,  in 
full  sight  of  all.  Mrs.  Craton  swelled  with  pride 
as  she  saw  her  husband  showing  off  his  finely 
cut  clothes  and  his  well  molded  form.  Mrs.  Cra- 
ton never  saw  virtue  in  any  man  but  this  one 
who  was  her  own  especial  property. 

“If  you  could  get  one  like  him,  Clara,”  she  was 
saying  as  the  officers  strolled  past;  “but,  then, 


40  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

that’s  impossible,  for  there  is  not  another  like 
him  anywhere.” 

Clara  laughed,  but  smothered  it  as  Mrs.  Craton 
continued : 

“Now,  there’s  Alden;  he  is  such  a nice  fellow; 
of  course,  not  like  my  Will,  but  I’d  rather  see  you 
his  wife  than  any  one  else’s.” 

“Don’t  you  think  I had  better  wait  until  he 
asks  me,  Lucy,  dear?  Do  you  think  it  would  be 
just  right  if  I should  propose  to  him?” 

“Of  course  not,  silly  child,”  replied  Mrs.  Cra- 
ton, seriously,  who,  by  the  way,  was  an  English- 
woman, and  for  whom  it  was  hard  to  see  through 
even  the  slightest  joke. 

Then  she  saw  her  husband  coming  toward  her. 
His  face  had  grown  ghastly,  and  she  ran  to  meet 
him. 

“Will,  dear,”  she  gasped,  “there  is  something 
the  matter.  You  have  heard  bad  news.” 

“Only  that  we  have  been  ordered  away  from 
here,  and  I shall  leave  you  for  God  knows  how 
long.  Heavens,  such  a life ! I sometimes  cannot 
bear  it  even  for  my  Queen.” 

Lucy  Craton  lifted  her  small  gloved  hand  and 
covered  the  lips  of  the  speaker.  She  knew  that 
of  all  loyal  men  in  the  world  this  husband  was 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

the  one.  She  knew  the  strength  of  his  love  for 
his  country  and  his  Queen.  But  she,  too,  felt  the 
tremor  of  separation,  and  tears  slowly  filled  her 
eyes. 

“We  must  be  brave,  Will,  dear,”  she  whispered, 
and,  now  that  they  were  alone  upon  deck,  she 
put  up  her  lips  for  a kiss,  which  he  ardently  gave 
her. 

“I  can’t  be  brave  and  happy  to-night,  Lucy.  I 
wanted  to  be  home  with  you  at  least  a month. 
They  have  no  mercy  upon  a fellow  in  this  busi- 
ness.” 

Again  the  small  fingers  were  raised  to  the  dis- 
senting lips. 

“I  don’t  mean  to  make  it  harder  for  you,  little 
woman,”  he  said  slowly,  taking  her  in  his  arms, 
“but  you  have  no  idea  what  it  means  never  to 
see  the  face  you  love  best  in  the  world  for  so 
many  weary  weeks  and  months.  But,  there,  dar- 
ling, I’m  not  going  to  spoil  your  evening,  nor  am 
I going  to  say  things  that  will  cause  me  to  regret 
afterward.  Lucy,  haven’t  I tried  to  be  a good 
chap  to  you?” 

“The  very  noblest  in  all  the  world,”  she  ex- 
claimed, with  a catching  sob  in  hen  breath. 

Just  then  they  heard  a low  laugh.  Turning, 


42  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

they  both  saw  Captain  Harding  standing  before 
them. 

“I  declare,”  he  shouted,  loudly  and  with  great 
good  humor,  “I  believe  that  you  two  people  will 
spoon  in  heaven,  in  spite  of  the  presence  of  the 
angels.  Shame,  shame!  Come  and  rejoice  that 
we  are  again  on  duty.” 

“Captain,”  and  Craton’s  voice  shook  a little 
with  emotion,  “would  you  rejoice  if  you  were  go- 
ing to  leave  a woman  like  that?  It’s  all  right 
with  you,  for  you  haven’t  any  one  to  leave. 
But ” 

Here  he  stopped  and  turned  away.  His  earnest 
words  had  caused  the  jollity  to  fade  from  Hard- 
ing’s manner,  and  he  responded  earnestly : 

“Will,  old  fellow,  I’ll  tell  you  right  now  that 
I don’t  believe  if  I had  one  like  her  all  the  king’s 
horses  and  all  the  king’s  men  could  ever  make 
me  leave  her.  I wish  I had  a wife.” 

“Well,  Captain,”  and  Lucy  Craton  looked  after 
her  husband,  as  he  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  ship, 
“while  you  are  away  I shall  find  you  a beautiful 
woman,  and  she  shall  be  your  wife  when  you  come 
back. 

“But  you  have  not  told  me  how  soon  you  leave, 
I suppose  we  have  a week  at  least?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  43 

The  Captain  precipitately  fled,  while  Craton 
took  his  wife  in  his  arms. 

“Sweetheart,”  he  whispered,  “we  are  going  in 
just  one  hour  and  a half.  That  means,  darling, 
that  I do  not  spend  one  moment  of  the  time  away 
from  your  side.  Lucy,  Lucy,  the  woman  does  not 
breathe  who  is  your  equal.” 

“That  may  be,  dear.  I am  always  saying  the 
same  thing  about  you.  But,  Will,  have  you  every- 
thing with  you  to  make  you  comfortable?  Think 
well  now,  for  that  northwest  passage  is  terribly 
cold.”  She  shuddered  at  the  words.  She  could 
not  believe  that  in  a little  while,  such  a very  little 
while,  her  husband  would  be  gone. 

Just  at  this  moment  Clara  appeared  at  the 
door  of  the  saloon  and  called  Lucy. 

“Why,  Lucy,  did  you  know  the  boat  goes  so 
soon?  I never  want  to  dance  again.  Oh,  I feel 
as  if  something  awful  was  going  to  happen — 
something  different.”  Her  eyes  had  taken  on 
that  look  of  almost  insanity,  and  she  drew  Lucy 
away  from  her  husband’s  side. 

“Don’t,  Clara,”  soothed  Mrs.  Craton.  “I  know 
just  how  you  feel.  I can’t  express  it  myself.” 

Suddenly  there  appeared  on  Clara’s  face  an 
expression  of  horror. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


44 

“He  is  coming  home,”  she  cried.  “I  am  lost, 
lost !” 

Mrs.  Craton  took  Clara’s  hand  in  hers  and 
forced  her  to  a seat. 

“You  shall  tell  me  all  about  it.  I know  that 
you  have  a habit  of  seeing  things  which  must  be 
very  disagreeable  to  you.  Now  tell  me,  for  we 
will  soon  have  to  say  good-bye  to  all  these  dear 
boys.” 

“If  I only  dared  to  tell  you,  dear,”  sobbed 
Clara,  after  she  had  lost  sight  of  the  vision. 

“You  must  tell  me  nowiand  here.  I shall  know. 
Has  that  stupid  boy  Frank  been  saying  some- 
thing to  make  you  feel  badly?” 

“No,  no,  not  that.  But,  Lucy,  I do  feel  as  if 
he  loved  me.  He  shows  it  in  every  move  he  makes, 
and  I do  not  dare  to  love  him  in  return.” 

“Why  not,  pray?”  There  was  a sharp  tone  in 
Lucy’s  voice  that  impelled  Clara  to  lean  over  and 
take  the  delicate  fingers  in  hers. 

“Don’t  be  angry  with  me,  dear,”  she  implored ; 
“don’t,  for  then  I would  have  no  friend  in  all 
the  world,  and  I need  you,  Lucy;  I need  you.” 

“Then  tell  me  why  you  can’t  marry  Frank 
Alden.” 

’Twas  a pitiful  story  when  all  told : How  she, 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  45 

* 

Clara,  had  received  attentions  from  the  hand- 
some Richard  Wardon,  his  declaration  of  love, 
and  his  hasty  departure  from  home,  leaving  her 
no  chance  to  tell  him  that  she  could  never  be  his 
wife;  and  now  that  happiness  had  come  to  her 
she  did  not  dare  to  extend  her  hand  to  take  it 
“But  why  did  you  not  write  to  him?”  asked  the 
practical  Lucy. 

“I  did,  twice;  but  what  was  the  use?  One  let- 
ter came  back  to  me  the  same  as  I sent  it.  The 
other  missed  his  ship  in  some  way,  for  he  sent 
me  no  answer.” 

“But  he  is  not  in  this  part  of  the  world,”  ex- 
postulated Lucy.  “Why  do  you  borrow  trouble 
until  you  have  to?  Don’t  cross  the  bridge  until 
you  come  to  it.” 

“But  he  is  here  in  Liverpool  now,  at  this  mo- 
ment. And  God  knows  what  will  become  of  me!” 
“Don’t  be  foolish,  Clara,  don’t.  He  can’t  make 
you  marry  him  if  you  do  not  wish.  But  let  me 
tell  you  this:  If  you  think  you  are  in  any  way 
bound  to  him,  then  don’t  promise  Frank  to  marry 
him,  for  I know  he  will  ask  you  before  the  ship 
goes.  Be  a good  girl  and  resist  the  temptation,, 
and  then  you  will  be  happier  in  the  end.” 

As  they  sat  thoughtfully  for  a moment,  a stir 


40  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

on  the  deck  caused  them  both  to  look  up.  Frank 
Alden  stood  there,  with  a resolute  expression  in 
nis  eyes.  He  was  silently  demanding  something, 
and  each  woman  in  her  heart  knew  what  it  was. 

Mrs.  Craton  rose  and  went  away  to  find  her 
husband  and  Frank  sank  down  upon  the  chair 
beside  Clara. 

“I’ve  never  wanted  to  see  any  one  so  badly  in 
all  my  life,”  said  he,  breaking  the  silence  with  a 
sigh.  “You  see,  I am  going  away  so  soon,  and 
I have  something  of  such  importance  to  say  to 
you.” 

Clara  lifted  her  hands  appealingly. 

“Will  you  wait  until  you  return  from  your  ex- 
pedition before  telling  me?”  she  faltered,  slowly 
lifting  her  eyes,  now  filled  with  tears. 

“I  can’t,”  breathed  the  man ; “I  simply  can’t. 
You  know  what  it  is.  I love  you.  And  I am  not 
deceived — I know  that  I have  your  love  in  re- 
turn.” 

Clara  dropped  her  face  in  her  hands.  She  was 
living  over  again  the  agony  of  her  father’s  death, 
when  she  had  seen  him  go  away  into  that  un- 
known place,  leaving  her  alone,  while  her  plead- 
ings fell  upon  empty  ears.  Frank  Alden  was 
drifting  from  her  life,  and  she  was  powerless  to 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  47 

hold  him  long.  She  dared  not  allow  him  to 
breathe  one  word  of  his  passion,  although  her  na- 
ture told  her  that  she  returned  all  or  even  more 
than  he  felt  for  her.  Again  the  vision  of  the  re- 
turning steamer  and  the  dark-browed  man  watch- 
ing the  home-coming  shores  and  thinking  of  her. 
If  she  had  only  told  him  that  day ; but  she  knew 
too  well  that  he  would  not  have  listened  to  her. 

The  minutes  were  rushing  on.  She  could  hear 
the  loud  breathing  of  the  man  at  her  side,  min- 
gled with  the  lapping  of  the  waves.  She  could 
even  hear  above  it  all  the  beatings  of  her  own 
heart,  and  she  felt  that  if  Frank  should  take  her 

in  his  arms 

Just  then  he  spoke. 

“I  may  tell  you  now,”  he  said  at  last,  chok- 
ingly, “ I love  you.  Why  should  I wait?  You 
are  mine  and  no  man  dare  take  you  from  me.” 

She  made  no  answer,  and  when  he  gently  drew 
her  head  to  his  shoulder  and  lifted  her  lips  to  his 
she  allowed  her  feelings  to  guide  her  actions. 
When  the  call  came  for  those  on  board  to  say 
good-bye  she  had  become  the  promised  wife  of 
Frank  Alden.  She  had  tasted  of  the  joys  and  the 
bitterness  of  life.  She  would  face  that  home- 
coming man  with  a decision  he  could  not  mistake. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


48 

As  they  walked  in  she  said,  hysterically : 

“Frank,  Frank,  dear,  promise  me  you  won’t 
tell  any  one  that  I have  sworn  to  be  your  wife. 
Keep  the  secret  until  I give  you  permission  to 
tell  it;  will  you?” 

“If  you  wish,”  he  replied,  gravely,  “I  will  keep 
the  secret;  but  I do  not  see  the  reason.”  And 
she  dared  not  tell  him  why,  dared  not  bare  her 
heart  to  this  truthful  young  man.  In  after  years 
when  she  was  suffering  the  tortures  of  uncer- 
tainty and  terrible  doubt  she  wished  that  she  had 
done  so. 

Frank  left  her  a few  moments  alone.  She  went 
to  the  door  and  looked  out  upon  the  water.  What 
a different  evening  they  would  have  had  had  it 
not  been  for  orders  for  them  to  sail.  If  she  could 
have  been  with  Frank  a little  longer  she  might 
have  had  the  courage  to  tell  him  about  Richard 
Wardon.  But  perhaps  it  was  better  thus.  She 
heard  the  sound  of  hurrying  footsteps  behind  her. 
She  did  not  turn  her  head,  thinking  it  might  be 
the  steward  or  some  other  sailor.  But  a voice 
that  penetrated  her  brain  and  brought  a cloud  to 
her  face  sounded  clear  in  her  ears. 

Turning,  she  came  face  to  face  with  Richard 
Wardon. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  49 

“Ah,  I have  looked  for  you  until  I became  des- 
perate. Darling  little  girl,  I am  home  to  claim 
my  wife  before  the  whole  world.” 

She  stood  rooted  to  the  spot  and  dazed  with 
fear.  His  black  eyes  were  filled  with  passionate 
longing,  his  lips  dangerously  close  to  her  face, 
but  still  she  seemed  held  as  if  by  some  invisible 
power. 

“But  I knew  of  your  loss,  sweetheart,  and  that 
you  were  stopping  with  your  aunts  in  London. 
Then  I found  that  you  had  come  down  here  for 
the  ball.  I could  not  curb  my  restless  spirit  to 
see  you  again.” 

Then  Clara  regained  her  senses.  She  stayed 
his  forward  motion  with  her  hand  and  said, 
slowly : 

“Mr.  Wardon,  you  have  made  a dreadful  mis- 
take. I have  never  for  one  moment  contemplated 
being  your  wife.” 

She  had  to  be  brave,  much  as  she  feared  this 
dark  man.  For  Frank’s  sake  she  had  to  hold  up 
her  honor,  which  had  been  slightly  trailing  in 
the  dust. 

“You  are  chaffing  me,  Clara,”  said  the  man,  in 
deep  tones;  “you  can’t  mean  what  you  say.  I 
have  worked,  prayed,  longed  for  you  for  two 


50  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

whole  years,  and  I defy  any  other  man  to  take 
you  from  me.” 

He  turned  slightly,  as  if  he  expected  that  man 
who  should  claim  her  to  rise  out  of  the  darkness 
or  from  the  sea.  He  was  leaning  heavily  against 
the  door,  and  Clara  drew  him  guiltily  to  the  deck. 
She  knew  that  for  the  safety  of  both  she  must 
keep  Frank  Alden  from  knowing  her  secret,  and 
from  letting  Richard  Wardon  see  him  as  her 
lover. 

“I  wrote  you  a letter,”  she  explained,  “and 
then  another.  The  first  came  back  to  me.  The 
last  one  never  did.  I tried  to  explain  how  you 
had  that  day  taken  me  by  surprise  and  that  I had 
not  had  time  to  explain  why  I could  not  be  your 
wife.  I do  not  love  you.” 

She  was  determined  to  be  brave;  to  let  him  see 
that  she  could  be  staunch  to  her  colors,  if  it  came 
to  a test.  But  disbelief  was  written  upon  his 
face. 

“You  were  too  hasty  and  too  confident  about 
yourself  and  about  me,”  she  went  on  eagerly,  now 
glad  that  she  was  given  the  opportunity  to  get 
the  burden  from  her  mind.  “You  entirely  mis- 
understood, and  I am  grieved  for  your  sake;  but 
I must  be  truthful,  must  I not?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  gl 

She  wanted  him  to  see  it  all  as  it  was,  and 
there  was  a certain  pleading  in  her  voice  that 
drove  the  evil  spirit  in  the  dark  man  to  the  point 
of  desperation. 

“Has  another  man  courted  you  since  I have 
been  gone?”  he  asked,  hurriedly.  “I  will  know. 
Have  you  given  your  heart  to  some  one  else?” 

Clara  lifted  her  head  proudly.  She  challenged 
this  man’s  right  to  question  her  upon  a subject 
so  personal,  so  sacred. 

“I  believe,”  she  said,  slowly,  “that  you  are  ex- 
ceeding your  right.  If  I am  promised  to  another, 
it  is  not  an  affair  for  you  and  me  to  talk  about. 
I demand  that  you  shall  question  me  no  further.” 

“You  have  broken  your  faith  with  me,”  said 
Wardon,  stepping  back  a pace  or  two,  “and  quib- 
bling will  not  save  the  cur  that  tempted  you. 
While  I was  working  alone  on  that  awful  ship 
you  were  loving  another,  giving  of  my  store  of 
love  to  a ” 

“Hush !”  ordered  Clara.  “You  shall  not  speak 
of  him  so,  and  I shall  never  tell  you  his  name  if 
you  plead  between  now  and  eternity.” 

She  felt  her  heart  swell  within  her,  and  now 
how  thankful  she  was  that  Frank  was  to  leave 
in  such  a little  while.  Everything  was  tending 


52  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

to  the  point  of  departure,  and  the  loud  calling 
of  the  sailors  had  sent  a sweet  emotion  over  her 
that  she  had  never  felt  before.  She  looked  upon 
Richard  Wardon  as  if  he  were  a murderer.  He 
would  take  the  life  of  her  boy  if  the  truth  were 
known  to  him.  But  the  ship  would  sail  and  the 
name  of  her  lover  be  kept  sacredly  secret. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


53 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Clara  was  standing  alone.  She  heard  the  de- 
parting footsteps  of  the  crazed  man,  and  she 
thought  with  a tremor  of  relief  that  Frank  had 
promised  that  he  would  not  mention  their  engage- 
ment. 

As  she  stood  looking  and  listening  with  all  the 
avidity  of  her  nature  she  saw  two  sailors,  full  of 
wine  and  in  the  best  of  good  humor,  passing  and 
repassing.  Their  vain  chatter  and  poor  attempts 
at  jokes  filled  her  with  disgust.  But  they  did  not 
realize  that  a tragedy  was  being  played  under 
their  very  gaze. 

The  sound  of  their  voices,  the  rapid  talking  of 
the  one  and  the  stuttering  of  the  other,  passed 
from  her  ears.  She  dared  not  linger  there;  and 
yet  what  should  she  do?  She  did  not  want  to  see 
Frank  just  then,  for  fear  their  meeting  would 
be  witnessed  by  Wardon. 

When  Lucy  Craton  saw  the  girl  again  she  was 
startled. 


54 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


“You’re  ill,  child,”  she  said,  quickly.  “Poor 
little  Clara,  the  sun  never  seems  to  shine  for 
you.” 

“Let  me  sit  down  a moment,  Lucy,”  begged 
Clara;  “I  want  to  tell  you  something.  He  was 
here  to-night.” 

“Who?” 

“Richard  Wardon.  I told  you  his  ship  had 
come  home.  I am  never  wrong.  He  will  meet 
my  darling,  for  to-night  I have  given  my  love, 
my  life  and  all  that  is  in  me  to  Frank  Alden.” 

“But  they  will  never  meet,”  replied  Mrs.  Cra- 
ton,  feelingly ; “and  in  a little  while  your  lover 
will  be  gone,  and  then  the  danger  will  be  passed.” 

Frank  Alden  came  through  the  dark  doorway, 
his  splendid  uniform  showing  off  well  his  fine 
figure. 

“I’ve  come  to  say  good-bye,  dear;  and  if  we  find 
the  North  Pole,  why,  then,  I shall  come  home 
and ” 

Clara  had  her  fingers  upon  his  lips  in  fright. 

“We  are  not  to  whisper  it  to  any  one.  Of 
course,  I don’t  mean  dear  Lucy;  she  knows  every- 
thing about  me.  I love  you,  I love  you !” 

If  Richard  Wardon  had  been  standing  there 
watching,  Clara  believed  that  she  would  have 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  55 

murmured  the  passionate  words  in  Frank’s  ear. 
Lucy  Craton  turned  away.  There  was  something 
sacred  in  the  scene,  that  she  could  not  view  with- 
out great  emotion. 

She  walked  toward  the  right,  where  she  knew 
she  should  find  Will,  her  darling,  her  noble  hus- 
band. This  left  the  lovers  alone  for  a few  mo- 
ments, and  each  devoted  the  time  to  communing 
in  spirit  with  the  other.  It  was  such  a sweet  ex- 
perience to  both. 

Clara  heard  the  sound  of  the  Captain’s  voice. 
She  knew  he  was  giving  orders  to  some  one.  Sud- 
denly she  heard  words  that  completely  turned 
her  soul  into  darkness  and  caused  her  heart  to 
beat  with  terror.  ’Twas  an  order  from  Harding. 

“Craton,  I’m  sorry,”  he  was  saying,  “to  drag 
you  from  that  pretty  wife  of  yours.  I wish  you 
might  stay  with  her  or  be  an  old  bachelor  like 
myself ” 

“Or  take  her  along,”  breathed  Craton.  “That 
would  be  better  than  all.”  Lucy  clapped  her 
hands. 

“And  I’d  go,”  she  said,  with  delight.  “I  would 
not  need  a second  invitation,  I can  tell  you.” 

“But  pretty  women  are  not  allowed  on  the 
boat,”  said  the  Captain,  good-humoredly.  “Cra- 


56  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

ton,  we’re  going  to  wait  a little  while  for  a new 
fellow  who  has  joined  our  ranks.  He  knows  the 
sea  from  beginning  to  end.  He  came  on  board 
to-night  and  asked  me  to  take  him.  His  name  is 
Wardon.” 

Clara  fell  limp  in  the  arms  of  her  lover.  She 
knew  that  the  doom  she  feared  for  her  love  would 
overtake  it,  if  not  here,  then  on  the  high  seas, 
when  these  two  giant  men  should  meet.  Her 
heart  felt  cold  and  unresponsive,  her  lips  dry, 
while  every  hope  seemed  to  have  died  in  her 
heart.  There  was  nothing  on  earth  that  could 
keep  these  two  men  apart  but  the  promise  Frank 
had  given  her.  She  realized  that  Wardon  was 
leaving  the  country  for  a while,  and  that  he  did 
not  know  whom  she  loved.  It  was  the  same  bitter 
fate  that  had  pursued  her  since  her  birth,  that 
had  taken  every  loved  one  from  her  life. 

She  clung  weeping  to  her  lover.  She  begged 
him  to  remember  that  he  had  promised  her  that 
he  would  never  mention  her  name  to  one  living 
soul.  It  seemed  such  a small,  such  a petty  thing 
to  think  of  just  when  he  was  going  away,  per- 
haps to  his  death.  Frank  satisfied  her  fears  by 
saying  that  he  would  remember,  and,  loosening 
her  fingers  from  an  almost  deathlike  grasp  upon 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  57 

his,  he  slipped  away  to  the  boat  which  was  to 
carry  him  to  his  own  ship,  which  was  but  one  of 
the  fleet. 

Clara  stood  for  a long  while  where  he  had  left 
her.  His  kisses  were  yet  warm  upon  her  face. 
She  went  to  look  about.  Men  were  hurrying  to 
and  fro  with  energy.  The  time  for  the  fleet  to 
start  had  come,  and  the  sounding  of  bells,  whis- 
tles and  voices  mingled  with  the  murmuring  of 
the  waves. 

Clara  wanted  to  hear  more.  She  saw  the  Cap- 
tain talking  to  Craton. 

“He  won’t  be  long,”  Harding  was  saying.  “I 
felt  sorry  for  him.  There  is  a woman  at  the  bot- 
tom of  every  man’s  trouble  in  this  world,  I be- 
lieve. I really  thank  God  that  I escaped.” 

“And  you  have  lost  happiness,  also,”  said  Cra- 
ton, “for  the  greatest  happiness  in  all  the  world 
is  that  of  a woman’s  love.  I would  rather  have 
my  Lucy  than  the  money  of  this  empire.” 

His  voice  was  so  reverent,  and  so  deep  his 
tones,  that  tears  sprang  to  his  wife’s  eyes. 

“I  shall  always  make  you  love  me  the  same,” 
she  said,  slowly;  “always,  always.  I am  yours, 
yours.” 

Clara  could  have  repeated  that  a man  was  ah 


58  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

ways  at  the  root  of  a woman’s  sorrow  if  she  had 
wanted  to  speak.  But  her  heart  was  sore  and 
she  preferred  silence.  Out  upon  the  sea  the  dif- 
ferent lights  from  the  various  ships  twinkled  on 
the  water.  She  could  hear  the  lapping  of  the 
oars  of  the  boat  that  was  taking  her  lover  from 
her.  She  stood  thinking  dimly  that  the  end  of 
her  life  had  come,  that  there  was  nothing  now 
to  live  for.  Frank  had  gone,  and  to  sail  with 
him  at  the  same  time  was  the  enemy  of  them 
both.  Lucy  came  and  led  her  away.  Her  eyes 
were  still  seeking  the  Viking,  upon  which  boat 
she  knew  her  beloved  would  live  for  many  weary, 
frigid  months.  She  did  not  know  whether  the 
two  men  would  be  upon  the  same  boat  or  not. 
She  hoped  and  prayed  that  they  might  never  see 
each  other  during  their  voyage,  although  she  felt 
that  this  was  almost  impossible. 

But  she  must  have  some  comfort,  some  idea 
upon  which  to  live  until  they  should  return.  As 
the  train  left  Liverpool,  and  she  knew  that  the 
fleet  had  gone,  she  took  comfort  in  the  fact  that 
she  had  secured  the  promise  from  Frank.  It  con- 
soled her,  and  she  snatched  at  it  as  a drowning 
man  would  at  a straw. 

Infinite  pity  sprung  into  her  heart  when  she 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  59 

thought  of  her  own  predicament.  Filled  with 
vague  alarms  for  the  future,  run  down  in  health 
by  the  constant  recurrence  of  second  sight,  and 
then  to  be  alone,  without  even  the  man  of  her 
choice  by  her  side.  She  drew  down  her  veil  to 
hide  the  scalding  tears  that  would  force  them- 
selves through  her  burning  lids.  Mrs.  Craton 
understood,  for  her  own  heart  was  bitter  with  the 
parting  from  her  loved  one.  She  could  never 
understand  why  it  had  been  put  into  the  laws 
that  a woman  should  not  accompany  a man  upon 
his  voyage  at  sea  when  that  man  was  employed 
by  the  Government. 

London  looked  bare  and  cold,  and  neither 
woman  cared  to  accept  the  invitations  that  had 
accumulated  in  the  short  time  they  had  been 
gone.  Clara’s  aunts  were  tired  of  seeking  for 
some  marriageable  man  for  her,  and  so  they  left 
her  to  her  own  devices,  which,  most  of  the  time, 
were  concocting  plans  whereby  she  could  sepa- 
rate her  lover  from  his  enemy,  or  that  she  could 
save  him  from  an  impending  fate. 

When  Clara  had  told  her  straightforward 
story  to  Richard  Wardon  the  light  seemed  to 
fall  out  of  the  eatth  for  him.  He  had  lived  in 
her  presence  in  his  imaginings  so  long ! He  had 


00  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

overcome  his  desire  for  London  and  the  life  he 
had  led;  had  taken  a hasty  departure  and  had 
gained  prominence  in  the  navy.  And  ’twas  all 
for  her  sake.  How  many  times  he  had  told  him- 
self that  he  could  live  for  her,  and  her  alone; 
that  out  of  her  love  for  him  and  his  for  her  he 
could  rise  a new  man,  ready  for  the  world’s  bat- 
tles without  flinching. 

Many  times,  oh,  so  many,  many  times,  he  had 
seen  her,  on  his  homeward  journey,  in  her  beau- 
tiful girlhood,  so  fresh  and  sweet;  and  tears,  ter- 
rible, passionate  tears,  welled  into  his  eyes,  and 
he  allowed  them  their  sway.  It  was  a relief  to 
cry.  He  had  heard  from  his  own  father  that 
Clara’s  was  dead,  that  she  had  gone  to  her  aunts 
to  live  until  such  time  as  she  should  have  a home 
of  her  own ; and  the  hot  burning  thought  scorched 
his  soul  as  he  registered  a vow  to  heaven  that  his 
home  should  be  hers  and  that  he  would  make  her 
a happy  woman.  And  when  his  thoughts  were 
rushing  madly  toward  her,  one  small,  ever-living 
idea  seemed  to  spring  into  his  heart.  He  would 
be  the  father  of  Clara’s  children.  He  would  hold 
their  baby  faces  and  they  would  laugh  into  his 
eyes,  and  their  mother  would  be  happy  in  the 
happiness  of  her  loved  ones. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  (ft 

It  is  hope  like  this  that  crazes  a strong  man 
when  such  hopes  are  shattered.  Richard  War- 
don  could  not  gather  together  the  scattered 
threads  of  his  life  in  the  few  moments  after  he 
had  parted  from  Clara.  He  dared  not  stay  with 
her.  He  felt  that  a tragedy  threatened  and  that 
he  would  be  in  its  midst.  So  when  the  Captain 
said  that  he  would  willingly  allow  him  to  join 
their  expedition,  Wardon  drew  a great  sigh  and 
accepted  it  as  coming  from  a power  higher  than 
his  own.  He  knew  well  that  Clara  did  not  love 
him.  But  so  firmly  grounded  in  his  heart  was  the 
thought  that  at  one  time  she  had  been  his  that 
against  the  man  who  had  stolen  her  from  him  he 
held  an  undying  hatred.  And  now,  as  he  looked 
over  the  side  of  the  vessel,  he  made  another  vow 
that  if  he  ever  came  in  contact  w7ith  this  man 
he  would  have  the  revenge  which  would  be  to  his 
soul  as  sweet  wine.  He  felt  that  he  had  been 
robbed  of  a great  and  priceless  gem;  as  if  the 
earth  could  never  give  him  another  like  his  lost 
treasure. 

He  stayed  a long  time  alone,  and  only  raised 
his  head  when  he  heard  a footstep  near  him. 

“Getting  time  to  roll  in,  is  it?”  asked  Craton, 
standing  beside  the  stranger.  “You  must  be 


62  under  the  north  star. 

tired.  Tlie  Captain  tells  me  you’ve  only  arrived 
from  one  long  voyage.  It’s  a wonder  you  would 
elect  another.” 

For  a moment  there  was  silence.  Will  Craton 
had  that  in  him  that  all  men  realized  as  truth. 
He  had  no  touch  of  curiosity  in  his  tones,  which 
would  have  wounded  a high-temperamental  man 
such  as  Wardon.  There  was  but  a tinge  of  regret 
and  wholesome  warning. 

“You  know  the  old  saying,”  Craton  went  on, 
with  a light  laugh : “ ‘All  work  and  no  play 
makes  Jack  a dull  boy.’  ” 

“Yes;  and  another  which  I might  quote,”  re- 
plied Wardon,  in  a deep  voice : “ ‘When  a man 
comes  face  to  face  with  his  own  soul  and  finds 
murder  there,  then  let  him  beware.’  ” 

There  was  a pathos  in  liis  tones  that  touched 
the  sympathetic  heart  of  Craton. 

“I  don’t  know  who  you  are,”  he  said  at  last, 
“but  I will  say  this : if  ever  I can  do  anything  to 
befriend  you,  do  not  fail  to  call.  In  this  hazar 
dous  life  that  we  live  one  never  knows.” 

He  walked  away  with  a full  feeling  in  his 
throat,  leaving  the  silent,  suffering  man  still 
looking  into  the  sea. 

After  he  had  gone  to  bed  the  greatest  suffering 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  @3 

of  his  life  came  to  Richard  Wardon.  He  felt  that 
he  had  turned  his  back  upon  his  love,  his  hopes 
and  the  greater  part  of  his  soul  life.  He  strug- 
gled with  a passion  that  few  men  realize. 

But  the  next  morning  the  sailors  saw  but  a 
morose  man  walking  the  bridge,  sometimes  with 
the  Captain,  sometimes  alone,  but  always  think- 
ing, always  dry-eyed,  and  terrible  in  expression. 

Onward  and  ever  onward  through  the  north- 
ern waters  the  fleet  pushed  its  way.  The  destina- 
tion was  to  be  as  far  as  the  ice  and  snow  would 
allow,  then  by  sleds  to  reach  the  remotest  north- 
ern spot.  Several  terrible  storms  had  so  reduced 
the  number  of  their  ships  that  the  men  were  now 
crowded  together.  After  leaving  the  vessels  a 
limited  number  pressed  in  through  the  density 
of  winter  until  they  reached  some  small  cabins 
which  had  been  deserted  by  another  exploring 
party.  One  morning  they  awoke  to  see  the  sun 
shining  upon  perpetual  ice  about  them.  Nothing 
but  ice  and  sparkling  sunshine,  which  gave  not 
warmth,  but  grandeur  to  the  scene.  Even  the 
master  mind  of  the  Captain  grew  faint  as  he 
realized  that  they  were  securely  locked  in  among 
the  great  icebergs  which  belonged  to  the  northern 
country.  For  a long  time  they  held  consultation 


(J4  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

together.  They  had  been  out  months  now,  and 
every  man  was  weak,  not  only  from  cold,  but 
from  deprivations.  Craton  felt  thankful  that  he 
had  made  a friend  of  Richard  Wardon,  for  it  was 
during  these  terrible  days  that  he  learned  to  ap- 
preciate the  strong  nature  of  the  man.  Several 
of  the  men  had  been  taken  from  the  steamers  and 
sent  back  to  England  by  ships  on  their  homeward 
voyage.  But  no  man  was  allowed  to  leave  who 
could  still  do  his  duties. 

Several  had  died.  There  were  left  such  a piti- 
ful number  out  of  all  the  strong  men  who  had 
started  that  this  morning,  when  they  realized 
their  danger,  Richard  Wardon  had  sullenly  re- 
marked that  fate  meant  to  take  them  all  by  slow 
degrees.  Day  after  day  went  by,  and  they  watched 
the  ice  pile  higher  and  higher,  until  there  seemed 
but  small  loopholes  through  which  the  sailors 
could  make  their  way,  once  in  a while  catching 
the  fish  that  were  thrown  up  on  the  ice.  So  grave 
had  become  the  situation  now  that  every  man 
was  willing  to  take  terrible  risks  to  save  his  own 
life  and  that  of  his  companions. 

Even  now  and  then  small  portions  of  the  huts 
had  been  torn  away  to  help  keep  life  in  the  miser- 
able beings  by  fire.  Craton  and  Frank  were  far- 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  65 

ing  worse  than  any  of  them.  Their  constitutions 
seemed  to  have  stood  more  than  was  already  pos- 
sible. But  Warden  was  as  sturdy  as  ever,  and 
it  was  only  when  he  looked  at  the  men  who  were 
almost  like  brothers  to  him  that  he  groaned 
aloud,  wishing  that  it  were  in  his  power  to  aid 
them  in  some  way.  He  had  never  become  well 
acquainted  with  Frank  Alden.  Their  natures 
were  so  absolutely  different  that  there  was  no 
affinity  between  them.  It  was  Craton  and  Frank 
who  loved  each  other,  and  Craton  and  Wardon. 

The  stuttering  sailor  whom  Clara  had  seen  and 
his  drunken  companion  were  all  that  were  left 
of  the  common  men.  But  the  two  had  stayed 
together,  getting  on  with  amazing  good  humor 
until  this  morning,  when  death  seemed  to  be  star- 
ing them  in  the  face. 

“We — we — might  as  well — well — make  up  our 
minds  to  die,  old  man,”  said  James,  the  stutterer. 
“There  ain’t  no  use  a-struggling  here  with  dry 
bones  and  hot  water.” 

“Well,  we  ain’t  dead  yet,  be  we?”  asked  his 
companion,  cracking  at  some  bones  of  animals 
which  the  men  had  found  upon  the  ice;  “and  as 
long  as  you  can  stutter,  old  fellow,  you  ain’t 
dead.” 


66 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


With  one  more  vicious  chop  he  landed  the 
bones  in  the  pot. 

“What’s  the  use  of  bones  any  more,”  he  said, 
after  a while,  “when  there  ain’t  no  wood?  Stutty, 
what’s  the  matter  with  sawing  off  your  whis- 
kers?” 

“Now — now — now — none  of  your  meanness, 
Johnnie,”  replied  the  other.  “You  ain’t  so  near 
heaven  that  you  can  make  your  old  chum  feel  bad, 
be  yer?” 

He  said  this  with  many  a stutter,  until  his 
companion  was  convulsed  with  laughter.  Even 
in  the  terrors  of  the  north  these  two  ignorant 
men  had  kept  up  the  spirits  of  the  whole  com- 
pany. 

“I  wouldn’t  hurt  yer,  Jim,”  said  John,  after 
he  could  get  his  breath;  “but  if  ye’d  sing  ye’d 
never  stutter.” 

This  speech  sent  them  both  into  peals  of  merri- 
ment, and  the  deadly  crash  of  bones  went  on 
while  they  created  the  fun.  From  afar  Craton 
looked  at  them  with  dull  eyes.  He  felt  that  he 
could  not  go  much  farther.  His  strength  had 
completely  given  out.  His  idea  of  home  had  be- 
come sharpened  by  suffering,  and  he  desired  with 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  Q~ 

every  fibre  in  his  being  the  sweet  little  wife  to 
whom  he  could  get  no  word  of  his  welfare. 

His  whole  ambition  had  been  warped  by  their 
peril.  He  cared  not  now  to  reach  the  North  Pole 
or  to  find  the  great  expedition  that  the  Govern- 
ment had  sent  them  to  rescue.  They  seemed  to 
have  enough  to  do  to  rescue  themselves.  Over 
on  another  bank  he  could  see  Frank,  his  thick 
hair  just  peeping  above  the  blanket.  Craton 
would  have  done  much  for  the  lad,  but  there  was 
nothing  left  in  his  power  to  do. 

He  moved  uneasily  as  he  heard  the  bones  tum- 
bling into  the  pot,  and  wondered  vaguely  what 
animal  they  had  belonged  to.  Probably  a bear; 
not  a man,  for  they  were  not  so  formed. 

“Boys,”  he  cried,  “get  that  hot  water  on  the 
bones  quick.  It’ll  warm  us  up  a little,  anyway.” 

“Ain’t  enough  wood,”  called  back  John,  while 
Jim  commenced  to  stutter  something,  which  was 
so  interminably  long  that  neither  of  the  other 
men  could  wait  to  listen. 

“Sing  it,  fool,”  guffawed  John,  and  Jim  closed 
his  lips. 

Craton  could  stand  their  jangle  no  longer. 

“Go,  Jim,”  he  ordered  the  stutterer,  “and  see 
how  the  Captain  feels — I mean  Elsworth.” 


gg  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

“He  wor  very  near  death  this  morning,  sor,” 
replied  John,  trying  to  blow  a spark  or  two  from 
the  fire  underneath  the  wet  wood.  “I  saw  his 
eyes  a-rolling  up.” 

“John,”  cautioned  Craton,  rising  on  his  elbow, 
“you  should  not  torment  that  poor  fellow  about 
his  stuttering.  No  good  ever  comes  of  that.” 

“Got  to  do  something,”  growled  John,  slowly, 
under  his  breath ; “and  I can  tell  you  one  thing, 
sor,  that  if  he  thinks  that  he  is  going  to  marry 
that  Irish  lady  that’s  a-working  fer  your  own 
wife,  what  he’s  been  looking  at  every  time  since 
you  sent  him  to  youse  home  with  messages,  he’s 
got  another  think  coming ; for  she’s  got  the  blar- 
ney tongue  in  her  head,  and  she  don’t  ’low  him 
no  words  much  lessen  a dozen  when  he  ought’n 
to  be  saying  one.” 

John  emphasized  his  words  with  an  oath  and 
a ferocious  poke  at  the  fire. 

“So  Jim’s  thinking  of  marrying  Molly,  is  he?” 
replied  Craton.  “Well,  it’s  the  way  of  the  world, 
I suppose.” 

A footstep  caused  Craton  to  turn  his  head. 

“Ah,  you,  Richard?  How’s  the  Captain?” 

“Elsworth?  He’s  near  the  end.  I wish  the 
doctor  could  do  a little  something  for  him,  hQ 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  0Q 

suffers  so.  ’Twould  be  a mercy  to  put  the  poor 
byeast  out  of  the  way.” 

“No,  not  that,”  shivered  Craton;  “for  always 
in  this  land  of  ice  while  there’s  life  there’s  hope.” 
Wardon  made  no  answer  to  this.  He  was  famed 
for  his  moody  silence,  and  most  of  the  men  re- 
spected him  for  it. 

“Go  with  me  to  see  Elsworth,  Dick,”  said  Cra- 
ton, “and  maybe  we  can  do  something.  It’s  hard 
to  see  one’s  own  companions  die  out  here  in  the 
ice  and  snow  without  a chance  to  even  help  them. 
But  I suppose,  as  I said  about  Jim  getting  mar- 
ried, it’s  the  way  of  the  world.” 

Richard  had  taken  him  by  the  arm  and  was 
leading  him  along.  He  would  gladly  have  shared 
some  of  his  own  strength  with  this  noble  young 
fellow,  but  then,  with  a shrug  of  his  shoulder  and 
a dark  smile,  he  remembered  that  he  might  need 
it  all  himself;  for  he  was  then  thinking:  “If  I 
ever  find  the  man  who  took  my  happiness  away 
I shall  make  him  suffer  as  he  has  made  me.” 

Dick  had  never  for  one  hour  ceased  brooding 
over  his  troubles.  Never  had  he  forgotten  the 
rosy-faced  girl  who  had  been  his  ideal  so  many 
years.  He  felt  that  fate  was  going  to  give  him  a 
Chance  to  wreak  his  vengeance,  and  then  how 


70  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

sweet  it  would  be.  Yes,  he  would  need  all  the 
strength  he  had  in  his  body  to  live  until  that  time, 
for  it  was  a matter  of  conscience.  He  had  sworn 
that  he  would  kill  this  man,  and  so  he  would. 
If  he  could  have  seen  far  away  in  London  the  suf- 
fering of  Clara  his  heart  might  have  softened; 
but,  as  he  had  not  the  gift  of  second  sight,  he 
went  moodily  on  helping  Craton  to  the  door  of 
the  sick  officer. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


71 


CHAPTER  V. 

John  was  left  alone  pounding  bones  for  more 
soup.  He  could  hear  the  crackling  of  the  little 
twigs  under  the  wet  wood,  and  he  leaned  down 
and  warmed  his  hands  a little,  keeping  up  a per- 
petual grumbling,  until  Frank  turned  uneasily 
in  his  bunk. 

“What  are  you  doing  there,  John?”  he  asked, 
in  as  strong  a voice  as  he  could  use.  “I’ve  heard 
nothing  but  quarreling  and  grumbling,  until  a 
fellow  can’t  rest.” 

“I’m  making  bone  soup,  sor,”  replied  John, 
slowly,  “and  it  do  take  a power  of  hard  work  and 
ravelin’.” 

“But  as  long  as  you’re  not  sick  don’t  grumble,” 
cautioned  Frank. 

John  looked  out  of  the  corner  of  his  eye  at  the 
man  on  the  bunk.  Every  one  loved  Frank  with 
all  his  heart,  while  the  sailors  would  have  almost 
given  their  lives  for  him.  If  he  could  think  of 
something  to  arouse  him. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


72 

“Be  you.se  at  all  seasick?”  he  asked,  after  a 
little  stirring  of  the  bones. 

“No;  only  a little  weak,”  replied  Frank.  “I 
ought  to  be  up  this  minute  working  with  the 
other  boys,  but  my  legs  don’t  work  always.” 

“Then  keep  still,  or  you  will  be  seasick,  if  youse 
don’t  cure  it  the  way  I did  mine  onct.” 

“How  was  that?”  asked  Frank,  with  a show 
of  eagerness.  “Anything  to  get  away  from  these 
awful  thoughts,”  he  muttered,  as  he  turned  in 
his  bunk. 

“I  stuffed  myself,”  replied  John,  with  a grin. 

“What !” 

“That’s  what  I did,  sor,”  went  on  John.  “You 
see,  sor,  it  wor  when  I first  went  to  sea,  and  I was 
uncommon  fond  of  eating,  and  my  captain  saw 
that,  fer  he  says  to  me  one  day:  ‘Now,  John,  you 
stuff  till  you  can’t  eat  no  more.’  He  wouldn’t  let 
up,  so  I et  and  et  until  my  stomach  was  so  all- 
fired  full  that  nothin’  but  a good  spell  of  seasick- 
ness could  do  me  any  good.  And  wasn’t  I sick ! 
Why,  sor,  when  I thinks  of  them  good  things 
a-going  to  waste  in  the  sea  thet  day,  when  we  be 
a-starving  here,  it  makes  me  mad.” 

He  gave  a vicious  stir  to  his  bone  soup,  adding 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  73 

a little  salt  to  savor  it,  and  looking  out  of  the 
corner  of  his  eyes  at  the  young  man  on  the  bunk. 

Frank  had  fallen  back  in  the  usual  position 
and  was  evidently  thinking  again.  John’s  story 
of  his  former  days  seemed  to  make  no  impression, 
for  there  was  still  that  expression  of  languor  in 
the  blue  eyes  that  made  the  rough  sailor  gulp 
down  a sob. 

The  soup  being  finished,  John  obeyed  the  order 
of  Craton  to  take  it  to  the  Captain. 

Before  going  he  gave  a few  spoonfuls  to  Frank. 
The  young  man  sat  up  after  this  with  a groan. 
He  would  try  to  get  about,  and  then  if  there  was 
an  expedition  party  sent  out  to  find  help  he  might 
be  among  those  chosen.  He  hoped  so,  at  any  rate. 
To  be  left  amid  the  ice  and  snow  with  his 
thoughts  would  be  enough  to  kill  him.  For  many 
months  he  had  thought  of  nothing  but  his  darling 
Clara;  thoughts  of  the  woman  he  loved  so  de- 
votedly had  become  the  best  part  of  his  soul. 
During  the  wreeks  they  had  been  kept  in  this  mass 
of  snow  and  ice,  banked  in  by  bergs  that  were 
larger  than  their  ships,  he  had  not  tried  to  keep 
his  mind  from  Clara.  Everywhere  he  had  been, 
every  task  he  had  performed,  had  been  done  with 
her  in  his  heart. 


74 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


He  had  kept  his  promise  to  her,  though,  and 
had  not  mentioned  her  name  even  to  his  best 
friend. 

Craton  came  in  to  him  as  he  was  dragging  him- 
self to  his  feet. 

“Feel  better,  Frank,  asked  the  officer,  in  a hope- 
ful tone. 

“Much,”  replied  Frank.  “But  for  this  con- 
founded weakness  I should  be  all  right.” 

Craton  stood  looking  at  him  thoughtfully. 

“Frank,”  he  began,  slowly,  “I  am  going  to  or- 
der them  to  chop  up  your  bunk;  we  are  short  of 
firewood  as  well  as  provisions.  You  don’t  mind?” 

A light  flashed  into  Frank’s  eyes. 

“Then  there  will  be  some  leaving  soon?”  he 
asked,  searching  Craton’s  face  for  an  answer. 

“Yes;  the  expedition  starts  immediately.  Lots 
will  be  cast  for  the  men  who  are  to  join.  You 
may  or  you  may  not  go.” 

Frank  sank  down  again.  He  could  not  wait 
until  he  knewT  whether  he  was  to  be  one  of  those 
chosen  or  not. 

“Every  one  will  take  their  chance,”  went  on 
Craton,  slowly.  “I  have  the  impression  that  I 
shall  be  left  behind.” 

“I  hope  not,  old  fellow,”  replied  Frank.  “Are 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  75 

they  going  to  draw  now?  I know  one  fellow  who 
will  object/’  said  Frank,  after  a moment’s  silence. 
“He’ll  think  he  ought  to  go,  whether  he  is  drawn 
or  not.” 

“And  his  name?”  asked  Craton.  There  was 
something  in  his  tone  that  told  Frank  it  was 
not  necessary  for  him  to  ask  that  question ; but 
Frank  was  not  slow  to  answer. 

“Why,  Wardon,  of  course.  Could  a man  be  a 
greater  bear  than  he  is?  He  has  proven  that  he 
has  the  temper  of  the  devil  and  not  even  good 
manners.” 

Craton  held  up  a warning  hand. 

“Don’t,”  he  said,  slowly ; “don’t,  please.  I like 
him,  Frank,  and  he  has  been  my  friend  since  com- 
ing here.  And,  then,  remember  that  you  were  not 
on  his  ship.  You  had  no  chance  of  forming  an 
estimate  of  his  character.  I know  that  in  his 
life  he  has  had  a bitter  disappointment  which 
would  be  enough  to  frighten  any  man  with  a tem- 
perament like  his.  He  loved  a woman  and  lost 
her.” 

Immediately  Frank’s  thoughts  flew  back  to  the 
little  girl  he  had  left  in  London.  He  knew  that 
if  hope  were  dead  in  his  heart  he  would  be  a 
worse  bore  than  Richard  Wardon  ever  could  be. 


76  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

He  had  never  liked  the  man,  and  so  had  kept 
away  from  him.  It  was  as  Craton  had  said ; he 
had  taken  no  pains  to  cultivate  Wardon’ s ac- 
quaintance. He  liked  Craton,  but  heartily  dis- 
liked Wardon.  But  that  he  had  lost  his  love 
somewhat  softened  the  young  man’s  heart  as  lie 
thought  of  Clara,  so  when  he  heard  a footstep 
and,  turning,  saw  Wardon,  he  stepped  forward 
and  said : 

“Mr.  Wardon,  I hear  there  is  a chance  to  get 
out  of  this  horrible  place.  It  may  be  our  good 
luck  to  be  chosen.” 

“I  do  not  care  to  leave  here,”  replied  Richard. 
“I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  anything  but  the 
suffering  of  the  men  from  cold  and  hunger.  I 
should  say  this  were  an  ideal  place  were  it  it  not 
for  that.” 

“I  can’t  agree  with  you,”  replied  Frank,  slowly, 
allowing  his  eyes  to  rest  upon  Craton  as  much  as 
to  say : “There,  I told  you  so ! What  a bear  he 
is !” 

“It  has  seemed  like  heaven  to  me,”  went  on 
Wardon,  in  a communicative  tone.  “I  hate  the 
thought  of  ever  going  back  to  the  world  of 
women.” 

Just  then  the  Captain — the  same  dear  Captain 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  77 

Harding,  only  a great  deal  thinner  and  over- 
looking than  when  pretty  Lucy  Craton  promised 
to  find  him  a wife — came  in  among  them. 

“Men,”  he  said,  slowly,  a lump  gathering  in 
his  throat,  “there’s  no  use  for  me  to  rehearse  all 
our  troubles.  You  know  as  well  as  I do  just  what 
we  have  gone  through  since  we  left  London,  and 
if  we  ever  get  back  alive  it  will  be  through  the 
mercy  of  a higher  power  than  ours.  But  we  can’t 
stay  here  and  starve.  So,  while  I dislike  to  sep- 
arate you,  for  fear  of  never  meeting  again,  we 
have  decided  to  send  those  who  are  able  to  go 
out  on  an  expedition  to  seek  help  for  those  who 
are  left  and  too  weak  to  go.  We  have  no  chance 
here  of  being  rescued,  for  we  are  far  in  advance  of 
any  of  the  parties  that  have  started  out.” 

Everybody  nodded  assent,  with  the  exception 
of  Wardon,  who  listened  attentively,  but  gave 
no  sign.  He  was  whittling  with  his  knife  a sliver 
of  wood  from  the  corner  of  Frank’s  bunk. 

“Game  is  too  scarce,”  went  on  the  Captain, 
“for  us  to  count  much  upon  having  enough  for 
so  many  through  such  a winter  as  is  coming  on 
here.  The  time  has  come  when  we  must  look  to 
our  lives.” 

“Tell  us  your  plan,  then.  Captain.  We  are 


78  UNDER  THE  NORTH  OTAR. 

all  loyal  to  you.  Whatever  you  say  shall  be 
done.” 

Harding  bowed  his  head  slowly.  He  knew  that 
these  men  loved  him,  that  any  one  of  them  would 
willingly  lay  down  his  life  to  aid  him.  Craton 
had  spoken  these  words  as  he  looked  appealingly 
at  Wardon,  but  there  was  no  response  from  the 
silent  man  whittling  at  the  stick. 

‘‘My  plan  is,”  went  on  the  Captain,  “that  a de- 
tachment of  men  shall  go  forth  this  very  day  and 
try  to  reach  the  nearest  settlement,  where  help 
and  provisions  may  be  sent  back  to  those  that  re- 
main. The  direction  to  be  taken  and  the  precau- 
tions to  be  adopted  are  all  ready.  The  only  ques- 
tion now  is  who  shall  stay  and  who  shall  go.” 

He  looked  about  upon  the  little  crowd  of  expec- 
tant men  with  anxiety.  He  wanted  to  do  what 
was  the  square  thing  by  them  all,  but  he  knew 
that  there  would  be  a little  grumbling,  no  matter 
who  was  taken.  Of  course,  every  man  would 
want  to  go,  for  there  was  a certain  hope  of  reach- 
ing out  in  that  icy  wilderness,  that  life  lay  be- 
yond. But  to  those  that  remained  it  might  mean 
death. 

“Do  you  want  to  go,  Wardon?”  asked  Craton, 
bending  over  his  friend. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  79 

“It  makes  no  difference  to  me,”  replied  War- 
don,  shortly;  “go  or  stay,  it’s  all  the  same  to  me.” 

“What  do  you  think  of  allowing  volun- 
teers  ■” 

The  Captain’s  eyes  lighted  up.  Here  might  be 
a better  way  than  to  draw  lots,  for  then  every- 
body would  be  satisfied. 

“Who  will  volunteer  to  stay  here  with  the 
sick?”  he  asked,  deliberately.  “Of  course,  there 
is  a risk,  but  not  much  more  than  in  going.” 

Not  a voice  answered.  Every  man  wanted  to 
be  up  and  doing.  Every  strong  arm  longed  for 
something  to  do,  something  to  look  forward  to. 

“Ah,  we  can’t  settle  it  that  way.  Then  we  will 
cut.  Bring  out  the  dice,  Craton.” 

“Let  chance  decide  it,”  said  Craton,  as  he  came 
back.  He  cast  an  anxious  glance  at  Wardon,  but 
there  was  not  even  a quiver  of  an  eyelid  to  let 
Craton  understand  that  his  interest  was  under- 
stood. 

“All  who  throw  over  six  go,”  said  Captain 
Harding.  “Who  shall  try  first?” 

“You,  sir,”  replied  Craton,  handing  him  the 
box. 

The  Captain  threw  seven. 

“Good  for  you,  old  man,”  whispered  Craton, 


80  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

and  then  he  turned  over  the  box.  “Three”  stared 
him  in  the  face.  He  shivered  a little  and  then 
laughed. 

“I’ll  stay.  What’s  the  difference?  The  sick 
must  have  some  one  to  look  after  them.” 

Wardon  then  took  his  chance  and  a six  turned 
up  for  him. 

“You’ve  another  chance,  Wardon,”  said  Cra- 
ton,  eagerly.  “You  neither  go  nor  stay.  Take 
another.” 

Then  Wardon  caught  Frank’s  eye,  and  said : 

“You,  Mr.  Alden,  have  what  the  women  call 
a lucky  face.  Throw  for  me.” 

Frank  had  his  fingers  upon  the  box. 

“Shall  I?”  he  asked,  seriously,  and,  receiving 
a nod  from  Wardon,  turned  over  the  box. 

“Five,”  he  said,  looking  at  the  number.  “You 
stay,  old  man.” 

And  Wardon  took  up  his  whittling  again. 

“Now  throw  for  yourself,”  was  all  he  said  to 
Frank. 

“Eight!”  shouted  Frank,  and  the  dice  had 
given  him  a new  lease  upon  life.  A time  before 
he  had  felt  that  there  was  nothing  left;  now  it 
seemed  as  if  Clara’s  hand  beckoned  him  to  come 
to  her. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  gl 

The  party  was  ready  to  start.  Craton  and 
Wardon  were  going  to  stay.  It  rather  pleased 
the  officer,  although  he  knew  that  his  life  would 
have  been  better  if  he  could  have  escaped  the 
dreary  cold  of  the  camp.  But  there  would  be 
many  bunks  to  cut  up,  many  old  things  that  could 
be  burned,  and  while  there  was  warmth  they 
could  live. 

He  placed  his  hand  on  Wardon’s  shoulder,  ask- 
ing him  to  wait  until  the  others  had  gone,  that 
he  wanted  to  speak  to  him.  And  when  they  were 
alone  he  said : 

“Dick,  you  are  getting  worse  every  day,  and 
what’s  the  use?  I know  that  you  have  suffered; 
but  you  must  rouse  yourself  and  help  save  these 
perishing  men.” 

“I  don’t  care  whether  I’m  saved  or  not,”  an- 
swered Dick ; “I  swear  I don’t.” 

“But  you  should  care,”  argued  Craton,  seating 
himself  on  the  edge  of  Frank’s  bunk  and  making 
a place  for  Wardon  to  seat  himself.  “I  don’t 
forget  what  you  told  me  on  our  way  from  Eng- 
land, but  no  woman  who  does  not  love  you  is 
worth  such  devotion  as  you  have  for  her.” 

“I  think  more  about  the  man  who  took  her 
from  me,”  muttered  Wardon,  allowing  his  eyes 


82  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

to  fall  beneath  the  steady  gaze  of  his  companion. 
“My  only  hope  to  live  is  to  get  vengeance  upon 
him.” 

“You  are  wasting  a valuable  life  for  the  salve 
of  a maddening  dream  that  will  do  you  no  good 
and  will  not  harm  another,”  replied  Craton,  dep- 
recatingly.  “She  is  probably  married  by  this 
time.” 

“I  am  not  so  sure,”  said  Wardon.  “I  believe 
the  times  that  we  long  for  come  to  us.  I know 
that  I should  recognize  this  man  if  I should  see 
him.” 

“Rubbish,  Wardon !”  said  Craton.  “Why,  you 
might  live  within  elbow-room  of  him  and  yet  not 
be  aware  of  the  fact.” 

“That  could  never  be,”  replied  Dick,  shaking 
his  head  emphatically;  “never,  never  be.  He 
would  disclose  it  to  me.  But  what’s  the  use  of 
talking  like  this?  You  and  I are  to  stay  here 
with  the  sick  and  dead.” 

Just  as  they  were  speaking  one  of  the  sailors 
came  in,  saying  that  the  fuel  had  given  out.  And 
Craton  roused  himself  quickly. 

“Here’s  Frank’s  bed.  Chop  it  up;  he  won’t 
need  it  again.  Lucky  dog ! Go  get  the  ax.  It’s 
dry  as  tinder.” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  83 

When  they  were  alone  again  Craton  saw  an 
expression  peculiar  and  ugly  upon  the  face  of  his 
companion. 

“Look  at  me,  Craton,”  Wardon  said  at  last, 
seeing  that  the  other  had  noticed.  “See  how  I 
have  lived  and  thrived  through  all  this  awful 
time.  No  man  among  you  is  as  strong  as  I am. 
No  one  among  you  has  the  strength  that  I have. 
Why  have  I been  spared  like  this,  when  even  your 
Captain  can  hardly  draw  one  leg  after  another? 
Just  for  the  meeting  with  one  man,  and  that  day 
will  come,  as  surely  as  there  is  a God  above  us. 
He  shall  stand  alone  with  me  and — vengeance.” 

Craton  uttered  a groan.  He  dreaded  to  hear 
Wardon  speak  in  terms  like  these.  He  leaned 
over  and  placed  his  hand  upon  those  of  his  com- 
panion. 

“Dick,  old  man,”  said  he,  “since  the  very  first 
day  we  met  I believed  in  your  better  nature  as 
your  brother  might.  You  are  putting  that  faith 
to  a hard  test.  If  one  of  your  enemies  had  told 
me  that  such  murderous  feelings  were  in  your 
heart  I would  have  told  him  that  he  lied.  But 
to  hear  it  from  you,  boy ! I beg  of  you  not  to  re- 
peat it.  I love  you,  Dick,  as  my  brother,  and  I 
want  to  always  offer  you  my  hand  as  I do  now.” 


84 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


He  was  extending  his  shaking  fingers  to  War- 
don,  who  took  them  slowly. 

“You  are  kinder  to  me  than  I deserve,”  he  mut- 
tered ; “and  be  kinder  still  and  forget  what  I have 
said.  I shall  never  mention  it  to  you  again,  and 
I can  only  say  that  I hope  I shall  forget  it  as 
soon  as  I know  you  will.  A man  cannot  overcome 
his  nature.  Remember  this  in  the  coming  years, 
and  also  that  I loved  one  woman  with  all  the 
strength  of  a man  who  could  love.  There,  I’ll  go 
to  w'ork.” 

The  sailor,  as  if  anticipating  his  wish,  entered, 
with  the  ax,  and  Wardon,  seeing  his  determina- 
tion, took  it  from  him. 

“Let  me  do  that,  old  man,”  he  exclaimed,  hop- 
ing to  get  his  thoughts  out  of  the  train  into  which 
they  had  drifted.  “I’ve  more  muscle  left  in  my 
arm  than  you  have.” 

The  sailor  relinquished  the  ax  immediately. 

Then  Craton,  giving  his  companion  a hearty 
look,  gave  an  order  to  the  sailor,  and  Wardon 
was  left  alone  with  his  task. 

He  began  furiously  to  chop  the  bed  to  pieces^ 
wdiile  he  said  to  himself : 

“If  I could  only  get  such  thoughts  out  of  my 
head.  They  seem  to  be  born  there  as  fast  as  flies 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  g5 

in  the  summertime.  What  a noble  fellow  that 
Craton  is!  But  what  does  he  know  of  life?  He 
possesses,  body  and  soul,  the  woman  he  loves, 
God  bless  him ! and  I hope  he  will  never  know  the 
pain  of  losing  her.” 

He  was  battering  down  the  long  side  pieces  of 
the  bunk  as  he  muttered,  and  suddenly  his  atten- 
tion was  arrested.  He  was  staring  at  letters  that 
had  been  carved  in  the  wood. 

He  whispered  them  out  loud : “C-L-A-R-A !” 

With  fury  in  his  heart  he  threw  the  board 
from  him. 

“Curses  on  the  man  who  dared  carve  that 
name!  Why  should  it  be  that  name  above  all 
others?” 

He  looked  about  suspiciously,  then  examined 
the  letters  more  carefully.  With  an  expression 
in  his  eyes  as  of  a crouching  tiger  he  again  went 
to  chopping.  Then  he  found  on  the  next  plank 
the  initials  “F.  A.” 

“It’s  Alden’s  bed,”  he  whispered,  relieved. 
“Maybe  he  has  a sister  Clara.  It  gave  me  such 
a start  to  see  that  name.  My  heart  pounds  as 
if  it  had  received  a great  shock.” 

One  after  another  of  the  dry  boards  were  torn 
down.  There  before  his  eyes,  looking  up  at  him 


gg  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

as  if  they  were  human,  Wardon  saw  the  letters 
“C.  B.”  many  times  repeated. 

“ ‘C.  B.,’  ” muttered  Wardon.  “Who  is  ‘C.  B.’? 
It’s  none  of  the  officers — no  one  that  I know.  I 
suppose” — and  here  he  stooped  and  heaved  a sigh 
— “I  suppose  his  sweetheart  has  those  initials. 
Poor  devils,  off  here  alone  by  themselves,  they 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  carve  letters  in  the 
sides  of  their  bunks.  I’ve  always  thought  that 
Alden  was  a moony  sort  of  a fellow.  He’s  so 

young,  too.  But  a fellow  can  love ” 

He  stopped  here  as  if  he  had  been  tongue-tied 
and  slowly  took  up  the  last  board  he  had  torn  off. 
Tormenting  his  soul  and  tearing  the  blood  from 
his  heart  were  the  words  “Clara  Benton”  deeply 
cut  into  the  plank. 

“I’ve — found — him — at — last!”  he  whispered, 
with  a halt  between  each  word.  “Oh,  God ! what’s 

come  to  me?  Craton,  Craton,  take  me  away ” 

He  had  raised  his  voice,  but  it  sounded  hollow 
and  queer  to  himself.  He  could  not  realize  that 
for  years  he  had  been  in  the  same  ship  with  the 
man  who  had  robbed  his  heart  of  all  it  held  dear. 

Just  as  the  words  dropped  from  his  mouth 
Frank  Alden  stepped  into  the  officers’  hut  and 
stood  face  to  face  with  his  enemy. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


87 


r CHAPTER  VI. 

The  two  men  stood  looking  at  each  other  with 
peculiar  glances — one  with  an  expression  of 
questioning,  the  other  accusing.  Richard  War- 
don  saw  in  the  straight  young  figure  before  him 
the  man  for  whom  he  had  longed,  the  robber  who 
had  stolen  his  sweetheart  from  him,  and  from 
whom  he  would  demand  the  price  that  he  himself 
had  paid.  Frank  thought  WTardon  had  lost  his 
mind,  had  grown  ill,  or  something  had  happened 
within  the  past  few  moments. 

“What’s  the  matter,  Wardon?”  he  exclaimed, 
hastily  coming  forward  toward  his  companion. 
“You  look  really  ill.  Has  anything  occurred?” 

Craton’s  voice  prevented  an  answer,  as  the  offi- 
cer came  in. 

“Get  your  things  ready,  Frank,  and  don’t  take 
much.  Here,  I’ll  help  you,  lucky  dog!” 

He  was  facing  Wardon. 

“Why,  Dick,  chap,  what’s  the  matter  with  you? 
Good  heavens,  how  pale  you  are !”  And  Frank 
Alden  replied: 


■88 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


“I  was  asking  liim  if  he  were  ill.  Why  don’t 
you  speak,  man,  and  let  us  help  you  if  we  can?” 

“I’ll  help  him,  Frank,”  replied  Craton.  “You 
have  to  get  your  things  ready,  for  you  have  but 
ten  minutes.” 

“There  is  nothing  the  matter  wTith  me,”  replied 
Warden,  but  his  voice  was  so  completely  changed 
that  Craton  hardly  recognized  it.  It  was  full  of 
concentrated  passion  and  rage. 

Suddenly  he  changed  completely;  the  expres- 
sion of  insanity  faded  from  his  eyes.  He  turned 
toward  the  men. 

“I’ve  been  a bore.  There,  Mr.  Alden,  shake 
hands.  I did  not  mean  to  act  as  if  I had  lost  my 
senses.  Are  you  nearly  ready  for  the  expedition?” 

And  while  he  was  speaking  his  heart  was  sing- 
ing : “Thank  God,  I have  found  him  at  last,  at 
last !” 

“Almost  ready,”  Frank  answered.  “But  I am 
hardly  as  fit  to  go  as  you  are.  I wish  I were  half 
as  strong.” 

“You  don’t  look  strong,”  stammered  Richard. 
“The  dice  had  better  have  sent  me  than  you.  We 
men  of  Kent  are  always  well  and  strong.” 

Craton  was  regarding  Dick  with  a fixed  expres- 
sion. There  was  something  underneath  it  all 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  §9 

that  he  did  not  understand.  Just  what  it  was  he 
could  not  tell. 

Frank  raised  his  eyes. 

“You  came  from  Kent?”  he  asked,  eagerly.  He 
would  ask  Wardon  if  in  his  time  in  that  County 
of  Kent  he  had  ever  known  Clara.  Just  to  meet 
some  one  who  had  known  her  and  her  father, 
which  pleasure  he  had  never  experienced,  would 
be  happiness. 

“Yes;  my  home  is  there,”  replied  Richard, 
slowly,  never  relieving  the  young  face  opposite 
him  of  that  relentless  stare.  “Do  you  know  any 
one  from  there?” 

“I  ought  to,”  replied  Frank,  with  a happy 
laugh.  “Some  very  dear  friends  of  mine  once 
lived  there.  But  they  have  been  gone  a long  time 
now.” 

Craton  had  drawn  nearer.  He  knew  there  was 
an  undercurrent  of  some  kind.  He  could  feel  it, 
but  just  what  it  meant  he  could  not  tell. 

“One  of  the  older  families?”  asked  Richard, 
eagerly.  “I  knew  them  all.” 

He  stopped  a moment  as  a thought  came  over 
him.  He  was  transported  in  an  instant  back  to 
those  days  when  he  had  been  with  Clara  day 
after  day.  He  could  see  the  graceful,  girlish 


90  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

form  flying  along  upon  her  horse,  her  merry 
laugh  ever  repeating  itself  in  his  ears.  He  was 
brought  back  to  the  moment  by  Frank’s  voice. 

“Not  one  of  the  old  families  there,”  he  said, 
“but  the  Bentons.” 

“You  don’t  mean  Clara  Benton’s  family?” 
asked  Craton.  “Of  course,  you  knew  her,  Frank ; 
I forgot  that.  So  she  lived  in  your  county, 
Dick ” 

But  he  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  for  he  read 
the  truth  in  the  vicious  expression  that  had 
rested  upon  Wardon’s  face.  He  knew  that  at 
last,  after  all  these  weary  months  of  waiting  and 
longing,  Richard  Wardon  was  standing  face  to 
face  with  the  man  he  hated. 

But  he  breathed  more  freely  when  he  remem- 
bered that  Frank  was  to  leave  in  a few  moments 
and  that  Wardon  was  to  be  with  him  until  the 
return  of  the  rescuing  party. 

These  thoughts  were  banished  for  a few  mo- 
ments by  the  entrance  of  a sailor,  reporting  that 
one  of  the  men  who  had  enlisted  to  go  with  the 
party  that  day  had  been  seriously  hurt  upon  the 
ice.  Craton  directed  him  to  report  to  the  Cap- 
tain, who  would  find  a suitable  fellow  to  take  his 
place.  Craton  was  too  interested  in  the  little 


UNDER  THE  NQRTH  STAR.  91 

drama  that  was  being  carried  on  just  then  to 
leave. 

Frank  and  Wardon  had  entered  again  into  the 
discussion  of  the  Bentons. 

“What  became  of  Clara  after  her  father  died?” 
asked  Wardon,  trying  to  draw  his  enemy  out. 

Frank’s  face  flushed  quickly. 

“What  can  give  you  authority  to  call  the  young 
lady  by  her  first  name,  Mr.  Wardon?” 

“I  will  answer  your  question  by  asking  you 
another.  What  right  have  you  to  ask  or  to  care 
how  I call  her?” 

“The  right  which  I insist  you  shall  respect,” 
replied  Frank,  hotly;  “the  right  of  being  her  fu- 
ture husband.  Clara  Benton  is  going  to  marry 
me.” 

Frank  had  forgotten  his  promise  to  his  be- 
trothed. He  turned  quickly  to  a little  box  in 
which  he  had  stored  away  his  few  belongings  and 
hastily  began  to  take  them  out.  His  face  was  red 
and  angry.  Seldom,  if  ever,  in  his  life  had  he 
felt  that  desire  to  strike  a man  as  now.  His  love 
and  respect  for  Clara  rushed  over  him,  and  he 
strove  to  thrust  down  a sob  that  kept  forcing  its 
way  into  his  throat. 

Wardon,  with  a snarl  like  an  animal,  stooped 


92  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

to  pick  up  tlie  ax.  But  Craton,  who  now  under- 
stood, pushed  him  aside  and,  placing  his  foot 
upon  it,  gave  Wardon  a warning  look. 

From  that  minute  the  friendship  between  these 
two  men  was  broken,  and  Craton  would  fight 
Wardon  every  step  of  the  way.  He  realized  now 
that  Frank  was  engaged  to  the  woman  whom 
Wardon  had  loved.  He  knew  that  there  would 
be  a murder  if  it  were  not  prevented.  His  would 
be  the  staying  hand. 

“Impossible  to  dispute  your  right,  Alden,” 
mocked  Wardon;  “but  you  may  look  upon  the 
matter  differently  when  I tell  you  that  Miss  Ben- 
ton and  I are  old  friends,  that  her  father  and  my 
father  knew  each  other.  She  and  I were — were — 
like  brother  and  sister.” 

“I’m  sorry,  Wardon,  I spoke  as  I did,”  he  said, 
slowly.  “I  was  hasty.  You  will  forgive  me?” 
Like  a manly  man  he  offered  his  hand,  and 
Wardon  grasped  it  hastily. 

“She  is  fond  of  you,  then,  Alden,  I suppose — 

/ 

extravagantly  fond?” 

Frank  uttered  a happy  laugh. 

“Of  course  she  is.  Clara  Benton  is  not  the  girl 
to  promise  to  marry  a fellow  if  she  didn’t  love 
him.” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  93 

Wardon  groaned  inwardly.  He  had  had  proof 
of  this,  and  it  was  superfluous  for  Frank  to  tell 
him  it.  But  he  had  asked  for  the  sting  and  had 
received  it  full  in  his  heart. 

“Thank  heaven  the  dice  have  parted  them !” 
whispered  Craton,  for  he  felt  that  a tragedy 
would  occur  if  he  did  not  interrupt  it.  “Frank 
goes  with  the  expedition  and  Wardon  stays  here 
with  me.” 

At  that  moment  the  Captain  entered  the  offi- 
cers’ hut. 

“One  of  the  men  from  the  other  hut  has  broken 
his  leg,”  said  he,  “and  I shall  have  to  ask  one 
other  to  go  with  the  expedition.” 

He  looked  questioningly  at  Craton.  That  offi- 
cer was  silent,  but  Wardon,  with  a glitter  in  his 
eye  that  did  not  escape  Craton,  stepped  forward 
and  saluted. 

“I  wish  to  take  his  place,”  he  said,  in  a low 
voice.  “I  have  changed  my  mind,  Captain,  about 
it  being  all  the  same  to  me  whether  I go  or  stay.” 

“But  you  can’t  go,  Dick,”  ejaculated  Craton ; 
“you  simply  cannot  go.  I will  not  let  you.” 

A sneer  crossed  Wardon’s  lips. 

“Is  it  for  you  to  say,  Craton,  whether  I shall 
go  or  not?  I thought  the  Captain ” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


94 

“So  it  is,  Wardon,”  interrupted  the  Captain. 
“Mr.  Craton  has  evidently  forgotten  himself.  He 
recollects  that  I am  commander  here.  You  will, 
indeed,  make  a good  man  upon  a long  journey. 
In  perfect  health  and  the  best  shot  among  us.  I 
really  was  on  the  point  of  mentioning  you.” 

“Wardon  cannot  volunteer,  Captain,”  put  in 
Craton,  eagerly ; “he  cannot  take  a right  that  was 
not  given  the  rest  of  us.  Chance  has  decided  who 
should  go,  and  I think ” 

“And  fate  has  decided  it,”  replied  Wardon, 
walking  slowly  up  to  Craton  and  looking  him 
long  in  the  face.  “The  man  who  was  hurt  is  from 
our  ship,  and  I demand  the  right  to  have  one  of 
our  men  put  in.  What  if  we  cast  the  dice  again 
and  a Viking  man  gets  the  chance?  Captain 
Harding  says  that  I may  go.” 

Alden  was  interested  in  the  discussion.  Sud- 
denly it  seemed  to  him  that  there  was  a battle  of 
giants  going  on. 

He  did  not  know  that  his  life  would  be  the 
price  that  would  be  paid  if  Wardon  won. 

He  heard  Craton  calling  his  name.  He  turned 
with  his  small  bundle  in  his  hand.  He  was  ready 
for  the  journey. 

“I  want  to  speak  to  you  before  you  go,  Frank. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  95 

You  are  just  from  the  sick  list,  boy,  and  look 
ready  to  drop.  Won’t  you  stay  behind?  Take 

the  advice  of  a friend ” 

“Leave  him  alone,”  muttered  Wardon,  threat- 
eningly, to  Craton,  with  great  stress  upon  the 
word  “him.” 

“Your  place  can  be  easily  filled,  Frank,”  per- 
sisted Craton,  “if  you  say  so ” 

“Leave  him  alone,  I tell  you,”  growled  Wardon. 
Still  Craton  went  on. 

“Frank,  you  told  me  only  a little  while  ago 
that  you  did  not  believe  you  could  stand  the  fa- 
tigue of  the  journey.  I beg  you  to  stay ” 

Wardon  ran  savagely  toward  Craton. 

“Craton,  I told  you ” 

But  Craton  had  stopped  the  words. 

“I  understand  it,  Wardon,”  said  Craton,  slow- 
ly, “and  I know  that  the  time  for  your  revenge 
has  come.  I shall  not  let  him  go  if  I can  help  it. 
He  is  my  friend,  and  so  were  you.  But  from  to- 
day  ” He  turned  about,  not  wishing  to  say 

anything  in  the  heat  of  temper  that  he  would  re- 
gret. He  knew  that  this  tiger  nature  had  suf- 
fered much,  that  his  heart  was  sore  for  the  loss 
of  his  love,  and  his  own  thoughts  flew  back  to 
London,  to  the  dear  little  woman  who  was  always 


96  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

in  his  mind  and  heart.  If  he  should  lose  Lucy ! 
Yes,  he  knew  just  how  unhappy  he  would  be. 
But  he  would  not  murder  another  human  being, 
that  he  knew.  He  was  looking  at  Frank  implor- 
ingly. 

“I  am  grateful,  Craton,”  replied  Frank,  with 
a genuine  blush  of  pleasure  on  his  face,  “for  the 
interest  you  take  in  me;  but,  old  man,  I’ve  made 
up  my  mind  to  go,  and  go  I must.” 

They  were  starting  out  now,  and  Craton  knew 
that  if  he  did  not  make  one  more  attempt  to  save 
Frank’s  life  it  would  be  lost.  He  held  out  his 
hand  pleadingly. 

“Frank,  old  man ” 

But  the  sentence  was  never  finished,  for  War- 
don  had  stepped  between  the  two  and  he  had 
whispered  fiendishly  to  Craton : 

“He  is  going  out  over  the  snow  and  ice,  to 
places  where  human  feet  have  never  before  trod. 
He  is  going  with  me.” 

Everybody  was  looking  at  the  two  men.  No 
one  could  understand  why  Craton  was  begging 
that  Frank  would  stay  behind.  Some  thought  his 
mind  had  turned,  others  that  he  had  a reason. 
Wardon  laughed  sardonically. 

“Craton,”  said  he,  “you’ll  leave  the  idea  in  the 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  97 

minds  of  your  fellow-men  that  you  have  lost  your 
reason.  Alden  is  as  strong  as  most  of  the  party. 
You  will  have  your  hands  full  here  looking  out 
for  the  sick.” 

He  held  out  his  hand  to  Craton,  who  ignored  it. 
Wardon  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  Craton  fol- 
lowed the  travelers  a short  distance.  Each  man 
took  the  last  look  at  the  old  huts  and  each  one 
carried  his  meager  bundle.  Craton’s  eyes  were 
riveted  upon  Wardon.  If  he  could  get  this  giant 
fiend  either  to  stay  at  home  or  to  allow  the  boy 
to  stay  he  would  feel  that  he  had  accomplished 
much.  But  this  was  impossible,  so  he  turned 
back  with  a sickening  heart.  Then,  remember- 
ing caution,  he  said,  loudly : 

“Frank,  heaven  guard  you  for  the  sake  of 
Clara,  and  may  God  keep  you  safe!  Until  you 
return,  and  as  long  as  you  can  stand,  keep  with 
the  main  body  of  the  men.” 

Richard  Wardon  threw  back  his  head.  He  had 
heard  the  words,  and,  wrapped  in  his  great,  warm 
bearskin  and  looking  like  a huge  animal,  he  went 
back  to  Craton  slowly. 

“While  Frank  Alden  lives  he  stays  with  me,” 
he  said,  in  a deadly  tone.  “There  will  come  a 


98  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

time  before  you  see  him  again  that  he  will  stand 
between  me  and  vengeance.” 

******* 

How  his  eyes  had  blazed  and  what  a devilish 
expression  he  had  had  in  them.  Craton  thought 
of  it  every  moment  all  day.  He  could  not  get  that 
look  out  of  his  mind.  What  did  Wardon  intend 
to  do  to  Frank  and  what  were  his  plans?  Of 
course,  he  had  not  made  any,  for  had  not  he 
started  in  such  a hurry?  Craton  felt,  nay,  he 
was  sure  that  Frank  would  not  be  able  to  stand 
the  journey  long.  Then  he  would  be  given  over  to 
the  care  of  a well  comrade,  and  that  comrade 
would  he  Wardon,  he  was  sure.  But  Craton  had 
done  the  best  in  his  power.  He  remembered  now 
distinctly  all  that  had  happened  the  night  they 
had  left  Liverpool : Clara’s  wild  embarrassment, 
the  peculiar  manner  in  which  his  wife  had  acted, 
and  then  Frank’s  elation  when  they  had  shaken 
hands  to  wish  each  other  good-night  and  had 
gone  to  their  own  ships.  Wardon  had  been 
placed  upon  the  Warrior,  and  that  had  given 
him  a chance  to  become  acquainted  with  him. 
Now,  when  he  was  angry  with  him,  disgusted  at 
the  smallness  of  the  man’s  nature,  he  could  not 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  99 

but  admit  to  himself  that  there  were  many  points 
about  this  big  fellow  that  made  one  admire  him. 

But  such  a foolish  desire  for  revenge  Cratou 
could  not  understand.  He  loved  Lucy,  but  a 
man’s  life  was  of  more  value  than  a woman’s 
love.  He  found  the  sailor,  John,  moodily  heap- 
ing wood  upon  the  fire.  His  friend  the  stutterer 
had  gone  with  the  expedition.  That  left  him 
without  a companion. 

“Don’t  use  all  the  wood,  John,”  cautioned  Cra- 
ton.  “How  are  the  sick?  Have  you  given  them 
any  soup?” 

“Sure,  sir ; but  there  ain’t  many  more  bones  to 
crack,  and  me  hands  are  almost  busted  givin  ’em 
the  cracks.  You  never  tried  breaking  bones,  did 
you,  sir?” 

“No,  John,  nor  stones,  either.  But  here,  give 
me  the  ax  and  you  go  and  rest.” 

John  smiled  aside,  that  his  superior  officer 
could  not  see  him,  and  betook  himself  away. 
Craton  lifted  from  the  corner  the  long  legbones 
of  some  animal  that  had  died  in  the  snow.  They 
simply  had  to  keep  alive  upon  the  broth  made 
from  such  as  this. 

As  he  had  said  before,  while  there  was  life 
there  was  hope.  But  just  now,  while  he  made 


200  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

the  splinters  fly  from  the  bones,  he  thought  of 
Frank,  of  Wardon,  and  the  curious  manner  in 
which  they  had  been  brought  together.  He  him- 
self had  been  responsible  for  it,  too,  in  a manner. 
Had  he  not  given  the  order  for  the  chopping  of 
the  bunk?  and  he  knew  that  it  was  upon  this  that 
Wardon  had  discovered  the  long-kept  secret. 

He  looked  into  the  fire.  The  boards  were  now 
burning,  and  he  could  see  the  charred  initials  of 
Clara  Benton. 

She  was  in  London.  He  wondered  if,  after  all 
the  faith  Frank  had  placed  in  her,  she  were  still 
true  to  him.  Three  years  nearly  since  they  had 
seen  each  other,  and  a woman  can  change  much 
in  that  length  of  time. 

Of  course,  not  his  wife,  not  his  Lucy.  She 
would  be  waiting  for  him  if  fate  kept  him  away 
from  her  for  twice  as  many  years.  And  then  he 
thought  of  his  own  affairs. 

Lucy  was  his  ideal  of  a wife,  and  maybe  some 
day,  oh,  that  beautiful  thought ! she  would  be  the 
mother  of  his  children.  He  determined  in  his 
mind  that  if  heaven  allowed  him  ever  to  get  to 
his  home  again  he  would  settle  down.  He  would 
withdraw  from  the  navy,  and  then  life  would 
begin. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ] Q1 

The  fire  burned  low,  and  it  was  long  before  he 
could  arouse  himself  from  his  far-away  thoughts 
to  go  among  his  sick  comrades  and  see  to  their 
wants. 

He  found  the  man  with  the  broken  leg  in  great 
pain.  The  doctor  had  set  it,  but  still  there  lin- 
gered great  distress  about  the  afflicted  parts. 

Craton  set  about  with  his  instinctive  habit  of 
helping  others,  and  with  hot  water  and  a small 
bit  of  morphine  he  soon  had  the  poor  fellow  in 
repose.  After  this  he  went  back  to  the  breaking 
of  bones,  and  his  thoughts,  and  he  continually 
wondered  where  Frank  was,  and  if  he  were  keep- 
ing with  the  main  body  of  the  men. 


102 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

In  the  meantime  the  months  and  years  had 
dragged  by  for  the  two  waiting  women  in  Lon- 
don. Clara’s  aunts  had  both  died,  leaving  her 
lonely  indeed.  But  the  love  and  friendship  that 
had  sprung  up  between  Clara  and  Lucy  had  never 
lessened  in  the  least,  and  the  fact  that  husband 
and  lover  were  on  the  same  fleet  made  the  tie  the 
dearer.  So  when  Clara  was  left  alone  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  her  to  live  with  Lucy,  and 
thus  began  the  lonely  life  of  these  two  women. 
For  the  first  few  months  letters  came  regularly, 
telling  of  the  wonders  of  the  North.  Then  they 
began  to  grow  scarce,  and  more  and  more  time 
elapsed,  until  there  came  a day  when  letters  were 
so  rare  that  both  Lucy  and  Clara  had  given  up 
looking  for  the  postman  to  bring  the  news  of 
their  wanderers.  Many  times  Lucy  had  owned 
to  herself  that  she  was  comforted  by  the  report 
that  Clara  had  been  given  a glimpse  of  the  fleet, 
and  once  Lucy  came  to  her  and  asked  her  if  she 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^03 

had  seen  anything.  They  were  sitting  together 
one  cold  night  when  London  was  enveloped  in  a 
fog,  and  this  subject  was  again  broached.  Both 
women  had  been  silent  for  a long  time,  when 
suddenly  Lucy  spoke : 

“Clara,  it  seems  to  me  I shall  go  mad  if  some- 
thing does  not  happen,  or  we  do  not  hear  from 
them.” 

“It  has  seemed  the  same  to  me,”  replied  Clara, 
her  face  assuming  a clouded  expression.  They 
seldom  ventured  to  say  such  things  to  each  other, 
for  long  ago  they  had  both  decided  that  it  would 
be  better  to  speak  only  when  they  were  satisfied 
that  all  were  well.  But  the  time  had  grown  so 
long  and  the  days  so  weary. 

“But  you  have  the  assurance  in  your  heart,” 
went  on  Lucy,  recklessly,  “that  you  will  hear 
from  him  through  the  visions  that  come  to  you. 
I have  no  such  assurances.  I only  have  to  blindly 
wait.  I have  often  laughed  at  you,  dear,  when 
you  have  told  me  that  you  had  seen  them,  but 
now  I do  believe,  and  if  you  have  seen  anything 
tell  me.” 

She  leaned  forward  eagerly  and  the  flickering 
light  from  the  grate  fire  played  upon  her  face. 
She  had  grown  but  little  older.  Lucy  Craton  was 


104  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

one  of  those  women  upon  whom  Time  lightly 
lays  his  hand.  But  with  Clara  it  was  different. 
She  was  of  a passionate  nature.  Her  heart  bled 
from  fear  through  all  the  long  days  and  nights. 
She  dreaded  to  think  that  possibly  these  two  men 
might  meet  upon  the  ship,  and  for  months  she 
had  seen  nothing. 

Her  last  vision  was  given  her  when  they  left 
the  disabled  fleet  and  went  into  the  huts  to  live. 
This  she  had  told  Lucy,  who  had  laughed  away 
her  fears.  But  now,  as  the  winter  months  came 
on  and  the  days  began  to  grow  dreary,  Lucy 
wanted  to  know  something.  Anything  was  bet- 
ter than  not  to  hear  at  all.  And  what  if  Clara 
could  see  into  the  future?  Then  she  could  tell 
about  their  loved  ones. 

“I  have  nothing  to  tell,”  said  Clara,  under  her 
breath.  “The  last  time  I saw  them  they  were  in 
the  huts,  I think  they  are  still  there,  for  if  any- 
thing had  happened  to  Frank  I should  have 
known.” 

“I  believe  you  would,”  replied  Lucy,  with  con- 
fidence that  caused  Clara  to  raise  her  eyes  and 
look  into  her  face. 

“I  say  that,”  went  on  Lucy,  “because  I have 
come  to  believe  that  they  must  be  somewhere 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  105 

where  they  are  unable  to  get  us  a message.  And 
if  they  are  in  those  dreadful  huts  that  you  de- 
scribed, then,  of  course,  they  could  not  send  let- 
ters.” 

‘‘They  are  there,”  replied  Clara,  with  decision ; 
“but  there  will  be  a change.  I feel  that  I shall 
know  something  in  a day  or  two,  and  if  you  want 
me  to,  then  I will  tell  you.” 

“I  do,  Clara,  indeed  I do,  for  it  seems  some- 
times that  I shall  lose  my  mind  entirely.  If  I 
could  only  be  satisfied  that  Will  lived,  even  if  he 
were  never  to  return,  to  know  that  he  lived  and 
did  not  suffer  would  be  a great  deal  for  me.  I 
ask  you  to  relieve  my  anxiety  if  you  should  be 
given  any  sight.” 

Clara  did  not  answer  to  this,  but  she  suddenly 
straightened  up  in  her  chair. 

“You  know,  Lucy,”  said  she,  “that  I have  no- 
ticed lately  that  poor  little  Molly  looks  pale  and 
thin.  You  know  her  lover  went  away  with  ours. 
I suppose  these  ignorant  women  love  the  same 
as  we  do.” 

“Possibly,”  replied  Lucy.  Her  thoughts  were 
far  away  from  Molly  and  her  sailor.  She  had 
enough  to  worry  about.  Was  not  her  own  hus- 
band somewhere  locked  in  the  cold  world,  while 


100  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

she,  his  wife,  waited  and  longed  for  him  to  re- 
turn? 

Clara  went  on : 

“Molly  told  me  that  she  had  had  no  letter  from 
Jim,  as  she  calls  him,  in  such  a long  time  that 
she,  too,  fears  that  a disaster  has  befallen  the 
ship.  She  believes  that  they  are  in  the  huts.  I 
told  her  I had  seen  them  there.” 

“I  believe  it  now,  too,  Clara,  only  I fear  that 
you  brood  too  much  upon  the  matter.  Oh,  if  we 
could  only  know,  if  we  could  only  know !” 

“I  do  not  believe  that  we  would  be  as  happy,” 
replied  Clara.  “What  if  we  were  certain  that 
our  boys  were  dead — would  you  feel  as  contented 
then  as  you  do  now?” 

Lucy  shivered. 

“Don’t  speak  so,  Clara,  she  implored;  “it  is 
too  dreadful,  too  awfully  dreadful  to  mention. 
Of  course,  if  I knew  that  my  Will  were  dead  I 
should  die,  too — that’s  all  there  is  about  it.  But 
1 know  they  are  not  dead.” 

“I  know  it  also,”  said  Clara;  and  then  they 
both  lapsed  into  silence,  while  the  wind  roared 
outside,  lifting  the  fog  and  sending  it  away  in 
drifts  over  the  city. 

“The  only  thing  I dread  is” — and  Clara  raised 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

her  heavy  eyes  and  looked  at  Lucy — “that  Rich- 
ard Wardon  should  by  some  means  find  out  that 
Frank  and  I love  each  other.  That  would  be  fatal 
to  Frank,  also  to  me.” 

“If  they  have  not  yet  found  out  about  it,” 
soothed  Lucy,  “then  I should  not  think  you 
would  worry  that  it  could  possibly  come  at  this 
late  day.  And  you  think  that  a vision  would  be 
given  you  if  such  a thing  should  be?” 

Clara  nodded. 

“Then  calm  yourself,  child,”  argued  Lucy,  “for 
Frank  is  keeping  the  secret  because  you  asked 
him  to.” 

Clara  sighed  deeply.  This  was  her  only  hope. 
She  knew  that  Frank  would  keep  his  promise  if 
he  remembered.  But  three  years  was  such  a long 
time.  She  got  up  from  the  chair  as  if  it  bur- 
dened her  to  remain  seated.  Her  long  black 
dress  trailed  up  and  down,  curled  in  and  out,  as 
she  walked.  Lucy  watched  it  with  fascination. 
She  imagined  it  a snake,  and  then  shuddered. 

“Clara,  don’t  walk  like  that.  It  seems  to  me 
that  you  have  lost  your  last  friend.  And  I am 
here,  dear.” 

Clara  came  close  to  her  instantly. 

“Forgive  me,”  she  whispered,  “if  I have  al- 


108 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


lowed  my  grief  to  overshadow  yours.  I know 
and  feel  more  keenly  than  you  can  imagine  that 
to  lose  a husband  is  terrible.  I do  not  take  the 
dignity  from  your  loss,  sweetheart.” 

She  was  kneeling  now  by  the  side  of  the  weep- 
ing woman.  It  was  the  first  time  in  many  months 
that  they  had  given  up  hope.  Perhaps  it  was  the 
roaring  of  the  wind.  Perhaps  something  was 
being  impressed  upon  them.  Nevertheless,  their 
grief  was  genuinely  terrible. 

“I  have  always  expected  that  I would  be  told  % 
of  any  move  they  might  make,”  Clara  said,  still 
kneeling.  “It  seems  almost  impossible  that  they 
should  stay  out  in  those  terrible  huts  all  this 
time.” 

“But  they  might  not  be  able  to  leave,”  replied 
Lucy.  There  was  a touch  of  hope  in  Lucy’s  voice 
and  she  looked  at  Clara  for  an  answer. 

“I  have  thought  that  also,”  Clara  replied ; “but 
the  days  go  on  and  yet  there  is  nothing,  and  now 
it  is  years.  If  they  were  dead  I should  like  to 
know,  for  this  awful  hope  is  killing  me.” 

Suddenly  Clara  rose  again  and  rang  the  bell. 
“I’m  going  to  question  Molly.  She  has  been 
confidential  with  me  about  her  Jim,  as  she  calls 
him.  I wonder  if  she  feels  the  same  way  we  do?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  109 

“Of  course,”  replied  Lucy,  philosophically, 
“for  love  is  love  the  world  over.” 

Molly  responded  to  the  touch  of  the  bell.  She 
stood  with  shuffling  feet,  and  once  shuddered  as 
the  wind  gave  a roar  about  the  building. 

“You  wanted  me,  mum?”  she  asked,  looking  at 
Lucy. 

“Yes,”  replied  Clara,  without  waiting  for  Mrs. 
Craton  to  answer.  “I  wanted  to  know  what  last 
word  you  received  from  your  Jim.” 

Molly  opened  her  eyes  wide  and  did  not  reply 
for  a moment. 

“You  see,  Molly,”  explained  Lucy,  “I  have  a 
dear  husband  on  the  same  fleet  as  your  sweet- 
heart, and  my  friend  here” — and  Lucy  leaned 
over  and  took  Clara’s  fingers  in  hers — “she  is  en- 
gaged to  a gentleman  who  went  with  them.  So 
if  you  have  heard  anything ” 

“I  told  you  the  other  day,  miss,  when  you  was 
telling  me  about  your  vision,  that  I hain’t  had  no 
letters  in  a long  time.” 

“I  know  you  did,  Molly,”  said  Clara;  “but 
would  you  mind  telling  us  just  how  Jim  de- 
scribed the  place?” 

“Sure,  mum,  you  kin  take  the  letter  if  youse 
wishes.” 


1X0  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

Molly  fumbled  in  her  bosom  and  took  out  an 
exceedingly  worn  paper  that  looked  as  if  it  might 
have  once  been  a letter.  She  unfolded  it  and, 
with  a bow,  handed  it  to  Clara. 

Clara  read  it  out  loud.  It  was  new  to  her,  and 
Jim  gave  a graphic  description  of  the  huts  snug- 
gled in  the  ice.  He  told  how  they  had  left  their 
ships  and,  with  bundles,  had  journeyed  on  toward 
the  north;  ending  by  saying  that  he  imagined 
that  the  exploring  party  that  had  gone  before 
had  all  perished  in  the  storm  and  ice,  for  there 
were  traces  of  struggles  and  several  human  skele- 
tons by  the  way. 

As  Clara  handed  the  letter  back  to  Molly  there 
was  an  expression  of  desperation  in  her  eyes. 

“They  could  not  survive  in  such  a place  as  that. 
Frank  was  careful  not  to  enlarge  upon  the  hor- 
rors of  it  to  me,  the  same  as  Will  was  to  you.  I 
have  less  hope  than  ever.” 

“And  sure,  miss,”  put  in  Molly,  “I  feels  as  bad 
about  me  boy,  if  he  do  stutter,  as  any  goil  could 
feel.  But  I’m  hoping  all  ther  time  thet  I’ll  get 
news  of  him.” 

“You  couldn’t  get  news,  Molly,”  replied  Lucy, 
gravely,  “if  Jim  were  dead.” 

“Thet’s  true,  mum,”  replied  Molly,  shrewdly; 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


Ill 

“but  I don’t  let  meself  say  tket  he  even  might  be 
dead;  fer  as  long  as  I’m  a-hopin’  every  day,  then 
I can  be  happy.  When  I loses  thet  hope,  mum, 
I loses  all.” 

The  feet  shifted  again  in  embarrassment.  The 
girl  was  driving  her  lesson  home. 

“You  can  go,  Molly,”  was  all  Lucy  answered. 

Molly  still  lingered. 

“I  hain’t  said  nothing  offendin’,  have  I, 
missus?” 

“No,  indeed,”  answered  Clara,  again,  before 
Lucy  could  collect  herself.  “I  am  very  glad  you 
have  spoken  so;  for  it’s  true,  when  one  loses  hope, 
then  life  is  no  longer  livable.” 

The  two  women  were  silent  for  a long  time,  and 
it  was  not  until  they  were  forced  to  that  they 
parted,  and  each  sought  her  couch,  but  not  to 
sleep.  Clara  prayed  earnestly.  She  desired  now 
to  be  given  some  information  about  her  darling  ; 
and  the  fact  that  Lucy  also  believed  made  her  a 
little  happier. 

She  lay  thinking  long  after  darkness  had  set- 
tled over  the  room.  She  thought  that  she  should 
never  be  able  to  sleep  again.  Suddenly  she  felt 
the  visionary  languor  stealing  upon  her.  She 


;Q2  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

did  not  try  to  fight  away  the  feeling.  What  she 
had  prayed  for  was  coming. 

She  saw  Frank  weak  and  sick  in  the  northern 
huts.  Then  she  saw  Richard  Wardon  bending 
over  her  own  initials  cut  in  the  wood.  She  read 
murder  in  his  terrible  expression.  She  saw  the 
party  start  out,  saw  Craton  follow  them  the  short 
distance  and  then  go  back  with  the  sad  expres- 
sion upon  his  face. 

The  vision  faded  after  she  had  seen  Wardon 
walk  back  from  Craton  with  the  sneering  leer 
upon  his  face.  She  could  almost  hear  his  words, 
“He  will  stay  with  me.” 

Then  it  was  over,  and  Clara,  with  a very  white 
face,  slipped  on  her  dressing  gown  and  softly 
tapped  upon  Lucy’s  door.  A gentle  voice  bade 
her  enter. 

“I  have  seen  them  all,”  said  Clara,  in  an  apa- 
thetic voice,  “and  Richard  knows  that  I love 
Frank.” 

“Isn’t  it  a freak  of  your  imagination?”  Lucy 
asked  quickly.  “We  were  talking  about  it,  you 
know.” 

“No;  I saw  them  all.  Will  was  there.  Rich- 
ard and  Frank  are  not  with  Will — why,  I do  not 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  } };> 

know.  But  there  will  be  an  awful  tragedy  and 
I shall  lose  my  darling.” 

Clara  had  given  way  to  the  tears  which  had 
gathered  slowly  in  her  eyes.  Her  slender  frame 
was  convulsed  with  sobs,  while  Lucy  tried  in  vain 
to  quiet  her. 

“Child,  you  will  make  yourself  ill,”  she  cau- 
tioned. “There,  do  not  weep.  You  did  not  see 
him  actually  killing  Frank,  did  you?” 

“No.” 

“Then  rest  for  a while.  Here,  come  in  bed  with 
me  and  maybe  you  will  hear  something  more.” 

“Not  until  I hear  the  worst,”  shivered  Clara. 
But  she  did  not  speak  again,  for  Lucy  soon 
dropped  into  a fitful  doze,  and  the  other  girl,  her 
eyes  wide  open,  staring  into  the  night,  lay  think- 
ing until  morning. 

The  next  day  Lucy  changed  her  mind  a little 
about  her  absolute  belief  in  visions.  The  sun- 
light had  robbed  her  of  the  feelings  of  the  super- 
natural. But  she  listened  again  while  Clara  told 
of  what  she  had  seen. 

“There,  there,  dear,”  she  said,  after  Clara  had 
ceased  speaking,  “don’t  look  so  downhearted.  It 
will  all  come  out  right.  It  must.  Why,  some- 


114  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

times  you  hear  of  sailors  being  away  in  that 
northern  country  for  years  and  years  and  then 
returning.” 

“Don’t  be  vexed  with  me,  Lucy,”  implored 
Clara,  “but  I simply  cannot  get  over  the  dream 
that  I had.  I am  perfectly  miserable  about  it.” 

And  so  the  days  dragged  on,  until  one  morning 
Molly  came  bouncing  into  the  room  with  the  mail. 

“I  thought  I had  a letter  from  me  lad,”  she 
said,  plaintively,  “but  there  ain’t  not  a word.” 

As  Lucy  tore  the  wrapper  from  the  evening 
paper  her  fingers  shook,  for  she  had  seen  in 
Clara’s  face,  almost,  the  intelligence  that  there 
would  be  news  of  their  loved  ones. 

Her  eye  ran  quickly  over  the  list  of  steamers, 
and  then,  with  lips  slowly  framing  the  words,  she 
said : 

“Have  you  the  strength  for  me  to  read  you 
what  is  here?” 

Clara  nodded  her  head  emphatically. 

Lucy  began  to  read : 

“ ‘'NEWS  OF  THE  NORTHERN  EXPEDITION — CAPTAIN 
HARDING’S  FLEET. 

“ ‘The  following  intelligence  from  St.  John’s, 
Newfoundland,  has  reached  us  for  publication: 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ;Qg 

A whaling  vessel  has  reported  to  have  met  with 
the  survivors  of  the  expedition  in  Davis  Straits. 
Many  are  reported  dead  and  some  are  supposed 
to  be  missing.  The  list  of  the  saved  was  collected 
by  the  whaler,  but  is  not  vouched  to  be  absolutely 
correct.  Further  particulars  will  be  gathered  if 
possible.  The  following  are  the  survivors  as  re- 
ported in  their  rank : 

“ ‘Captain  Harding. 

“ ‘Lieutenant  Craton.’  ” 

The  paper  fluttered  from  Lucy’s  fingers  and  it 
fell  at  Clara’s  feet. 

“Clara,”  gasped  Mrs.  Craton,  “my  husband  is 
coming  home  to  me.  May  heaven  be  thanked  for 
such  precious  news.” 

Clara  was  staring  at  the  paper. 

“Poor  child,”  said  Mrs.  Craton,  almost  imme- 
diately. “Forgive  me,  I’m  so  selfish.  I did  not 
read  on,  but  I will.” 

She  then  read  a list  of  the  names  of  the  dead. 
She  did  not  proceed,  but  said  quickly : 

“You  see,  he  is  not  dead,  but ” 

She  waa  reading  again : 

“ ‘Among  the  missing  are  Richard  Wardon  and 
— and — Frank  Alden.’  ” 


116  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

Again  the  paper  fluttered  to  the  floor,  and  this 
time  neither  woman  noticed.  It  had  yielded  its 
all  to  them,  and  they  were  now  waiting,  and  for 
what?  Clara  was  too  miserable  to  weep.  She 
fixed  her  eyes  upon  Lucy  appealingly.  What  was 
there  to  be  said? 

“Darling,”  said  Mrs.  Craton,  after  a little 
while,  “if  I seem  too  happy  to  you,  remember 
he  is  coming  back  to  me.  I would  help  you  if  I 
could.  I am  not  so  sure  now  that  your  boy  is 
dead.  You  saw  for  yourself  that  it  said  that  the 
news  might  not  be  authentic.  We  will  cheer  up 
a little,  and  I will  promise  not  to  look  too  happy. 
I know  one  thing — you  are  getting  thinner  every 
day,”  and  Lucy  took  the  white  fingers  in  hers. 
“I  shall  send  for  my  good  old  doctor  and  he  will 
give  you  something  to  cheer  you  up.” 

Clara  sighed  as  she  ascended  the  stairs  to  her 
bedroom.  How  like  the  human  heart ! Lucy  had 
forgotten  that  only  the  day  before  her  own  heart 
was  losing  its  life-blood  in  anxiety  for  her  be- 
loved, and  now — well,  Lucy  had  the  assurance 
that  Will  was  coming  back  to  her. 

Clara  sat  down  with  a feeling  of  lost  hope  and 
again  gave  herself  to  the  thoughts  of  the  puzzling 
dream  of  the  night  before. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


117 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

True  to  her  word,  the  next  morning  Lucy  had 
the  good  doctor  to  see  her  little  friend.  When 
Clara,  pale  and  worn  through  a sleepless  night, 
descended  the  stairs  she  wras  met  by  Mrs.  Craton. 

“You  are  to  be  ready  to  see  the  doctor  at  ten,” 
she  said  decidedly.  “I  told  him  over  the  ’phone 
that  you  were  really  sick.” 

Lucy  looked  like  another  being  since  the  news 
of  her  husband’s  safety.  She  only  desired  now 
that  Clara  should  feel  in  better  spirits.  “Any- 
way,” reasoned  Lucy,  “a  husband  is  dearer  than 
a sweetheart,  and  she  must  learn  to  bear  the 
shock.” 

Clara  gave  her  usual  quiet  smile,  only  this 
morning  it  was  tinged  with  despair. 

“What  good  will  he  do  me?”  she  asked.  “I  am 
not  sick  in  my  body,  and  he  can’t  cure  a dying 
soul.” 

“Clara,  for  heaven’s  sake,  will  you  please  not 
talk  in  that  manner  any  longer?  It  simply  makes 
me  shudder.” 


Ug  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

“Then  T will  be  silent,”  said  Clara,  walking 
toward  the  dining-room. 

Lucy  ran  after  her. 

“Clara,  dear,  dear  girl,”  she  cried,  “don’t  get 
that  hopeless  tone  in  your  voice.  Child,  it  is 
doubting  the  mercy  of  heaven.  Listen,  God  has 
saved  my  husband ; He  surely  can  save  Frank.” 

“But  He  hasn’t,”  replied  Clara,  petulantly. 
“He  has  taken  from  me  the  only  human  being  I 
love  devotedly,  and  I will  not  live  and  shall  not 
try,  Lucy.” 

A sharp  expression  of  pain  rested  upon  Mrs. 
Craton’s  face.  Clara  noticed  it. 

“Forgive  me,  Lucy,”  she  ejaculated,  her  better 
nature  overcoming  her  despair.  “I  was  cruel. 
You  know  that  I love  you  very,  very  much,  in- 
deed; but  so  different  from  Frank.  Now,  then, 
you  love  me  with  an  entirely  different  emotion 
than  you  do  Will ; don’t  you?” 

“Of  course,”  reluctantly  replied  Mrs.  Craton. 

“Exactly,”  said  Clara.  “Then  you  know  how 
I suffer  for  Frank.  No  other  man  in  all  the  world 
is  like  him  to  me.  I will  see  your  doctor,  though, 
Lucy,  and  take  all  the  bitter  medicine  that  you 
want  me  to.” 

Mrs.  Craton  turned  away  with  a sigh.  She  felt 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  \\§ 

that  it  was  useless  to  argue,  and  nothing  but  the 
news  of  the  safe  return  of  her  lover  would  do 
Clara  any  good.  The  little  woman’s  large  heart 
pounded  furiously  as  she  thought  of  the  happi- 
ness it  would  cause  if  sudden  news  came  that  the 
lad  had  been  rescued.  But  she  shook  her  head 
thoughtfully  as  she  went  into  the  drawing-room 
at  the  bidding  of  Molly,  as  the  doctor  waited  for 
her  there.  She,  too,  was  sure  that  Richard  War- 
don  had  found  out  that  Frank  loved  Clara  and 
had  taken  his  revenge  by  putting  him  to  death. 

As  she  neared  the  door  she  slipped  from  her 
pocket  the  small  clipping  she  had  cut  from  the 
paper  and  passionately  kissed  the  name  which 
was  to  her  the  dearest  in  all  the  world. 

A laugh  interrupted  her  emotion. 

“I’ve  caught  you !”  cried  a merry  voice.  “Kiss- 
ing a letter,  I’ll  bet.” 

Lucy  laughed  blushingly. 

“I  confess  to  being  caught  in  the  act,  doctor,” 
she  said.  “You  see,  I am  so  happy  to  have  this 
precious  bit  of  paper  that  I cannot  bear  to  have 
it  out  of  my  hands.” 

She  held  out  the  clipping  and  the  doctor  read 
it  with  evident  delight. 

“I  have  only  congratulations  for  you,  my  dear 


120  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

Mrs.  Craton,”  he  said,  “for  it  would,  indeed,  have 
been  a misfortune  if  that  noble  husband  of  yours 
had  been  lost.  I suppose  some  of  these  days  he 
will  be  coming  home.” 

“I  hope  so.” 

“So  do  I,  for  your  sake.  You  do  not  need  any 
doctor;  now,  where  is  my  patient?” 

“Let  me  tell  you  about  her  first,  doctor,”  re- 
plied Lucy.  “You  see  that  the  news  was  not  good 
for  her,  as  the  poor  child  had  her  sweetheart  upon 
the  same  expedition.” 

A low  whistle  from  the  doctor  was  his  only 
answer. 

“He  is  among  the  missing — that  one,”  she  went 
on,  pointing  out  Frank’s  name. 

“How  does  she  take  it?”  asked  the  doctor,  now 
thoroughly  interested  in  the  case;  “crying,  ner- 
vous, all  broken  up?” 

“No,”  replied  Lucy.  “I  wish  she  were  more 
demonstrative;  but  it  is  so  deep  that  she  just  gets 
thinner  and  thinner  every  day,  until  I despair 
of  her  life  if  it  goes  on.  And  yesterday  when  she 
saw  this  clipping  she  seemed  to  feel  that  the 
opinion  she  had  held  for  a long  time  had  been 
verified.  You  see” — and  here  Mrs.  Craton  hesi- 
tated; she  did  not  want  to  betray  a trust  that 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  J21 

Clara  liad  placed  in  her — “you  see,  she  has 
dreams,  and  she  recently  had  another.  They  are 
sort  of  a second  sight,  and  several  times  she  has 
seen  her  lover.” 

“Tush,  tush,  what  rot !”  exclaimed  the  doctor. 
“I  never  heard  anything  like  it  in  all  the  world. 
Who  would  ever  think  a well-educated  woman 
would  believe  in  such  nonsense?” 

“I’m  not  so  sure  it’s  nonsense,  doctor,”  hesi- 
tated Lucy,  as  she  sank  back  in  her  chair.  “Why, 
it  seems  so  natural  as  she  tells  it.” 

“Vivid  imagination,”  grunted  the  doctor. 
“There  is  a chance  also  that  he  is  living,  for  the 
report  says  that  the  news  might  not  be  authen- 
tic.” 

“I’ve  told  her  that  also,”  replied  Lucy,  “but 
nothing  shakes  her  confidence  in  what  she  sees. 
I’ve  known  her  to  tell  several  things  that  came 
exactly  true.  For  instance,  she  foretold  of  the 
home-coming  of  a man  some  little  time  before  his 
arrival.  Her  faith  is  so  strong  in  it  and  it  is  all 
so  uncanny  that  it  gives  me  the  shivers.” 

“It’s  all  a hallucination,”  replied  the  doctor, 
breezily.  “Poor  little  thing ! Let  me  see  her.” 

“I  am  here,  Lucy,”  said  a quiet,  sweet  voice, 


122  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

and  Doctor  Margrave  rose  to  his  feet  with  a bow 
to  Clara.  “You  wanted  to  see  me,  doctor  ?” 

“I  have  a scolding  for  you,”  replied  Margrave, 
when  he  could  get  his  voice ; “yes,  a severe  scold- 
ing. First  of  all,  how  do  you  feel  to-day?” 

“The  same,”  replied  Clara,  allowing  her  gaze 
to  rest  upon  the  doctor’s  face  as  if  to  assure  him 
it  would  not  benefit  her  whatever  he  might  say. 

“But  you  don’t  look  as  wTell,”  replied  he,  plac- 
ing a finger  upon  her  rapid  pulse.  “Here,  here, 
now,  this  won’t  do.  It’s  that  confounded  report 
in  the  paper  that  is  to  blame  for  this  condition. 
You  have  a fever,  child.  Now  listen  to  me.  You 
know  that  there  is  an  old  saying  that  we  worry 
most  over  the  children  that  never  are  born.  Now, 
then,  the  paper  only  says  that  your  friend  is  miss- 
ing. It  does  not  even  say  that  he  is  dead ; and  if 
it  did,  it  also  says  that  the  report  might  not  be 
authentic.  Now,  then,  are  you  going  to  be  a sen- 
sible girl  and  put  these  morbid  thoughts  out  of 
your  head?  I’ll  then  guarantee  that  you  will  get 
wrell  bodily.” 

Clara  rose  suddenly. 

“Is  this  all,  doctor?”  she  asked,  quietly.  “Then 
I will  go  upstairs.  You  will  excuse  me,  Lucy. 
I am  so  tired.” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  123 

Tears  were  resting  upon  Lucy’s  cheeks  when 
the  doctor  turned  to  her  again. 

“The  child’s  in  a bad  state,”  he  said,  reluc- 
tantly; “very  bad.  If  I could  only  get  her  mind 
into  a good  condition,  then  I am  sure  she  would 
pick  up.  But  a burdened  brain  will  always  harm 
the  strongest  body.” 

“I  know  that,”  wept  Lucy,  “and  I told  her  last 
night  that  if  I could  share  my  happiness  with  her 
I would  gladly  do  it.  But  I can’t ; so  what’s  the 
use  of  trying,  Avhen  she  simply  won’t  look  up  to- 
ward the  brighter  things?” 

The  doctor  did  not  answer  for  a few  moments, 
but  he  was  thinking  of  a certain  little  woman 
who  had  been  sick  in  bed  but  a week  before,  and 
all  caused  because  she  worried  for  an  absent  hus- 
band. But  he  did  not  mention  this  when  he  next 
spoke. 

“I  see  a marked  change  in  the  young  lady  since 
I last  saw  her,”  he  said  earnestly;  “a  very  marked 
change.  The  trouble  is  not,  I trust,  beyond  hu- 
man aid.  The  great  hope  for  her  is  that  Alden 
is  still  living  and  that  she  may  hear  of  it  soon. 
If  I knew  that  I should  have  no  fears  for  her. 
But  as  things  are  now” — and  here  the  doctor 
picked  up  his  gloves  and  slipped  them  over  his 


124  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

long  fingers — “I  own  I dread  tliat  settled  con- 
viction of  his  death  will  cause  hers  also.  Her 
heart  is  not  in  a good  condition.  It  is  sometimes 
strong  and  other  times  weak.  She  has  a low 
nervous  fever,  which  will  consume  her  if  some- 
thing is  not  done.  If  you  wish  to  call  in  other 
advice,  then  do  not  let  me  deter  you.” 

“No,  doctor;  I feel  that  you  are  competent  to 
tell  me,”  replied  Lucy.  “There  must  be  some- 
thing that  I can  do  for  her.” 

“Then  try  a change ; take  her  away  from  here,” 
ordered  the  doctor;  “and  if  you  try  the  right 
place,  no  telling  what  will  come  from  it.” 

“She  refuses  to  leave,”  said  Mrs.  Craton.  “I 
said  to  her  only  last  week  that  we  would  go  some 
where  else,  but  she  would  not  listen.” 

The  doctor  reflected  for  a few  moments. 

“I  have  a plan  which  I think  she  would  not  say 
no  to  if  you  should  ask  her.” 

“Yes?”  breathed  Lucy,  eagerly. 

“Have  you  any  influence  at  the  Admiralty 
here?”  asked  Margrave,  after  he  had  kept  Lucy 
waiting  long  enough  to  give  her  the  fidgets. 

“Of  course,”  she  replied  hesitatingly,  not  un- 
derstanding; “my  own  father  is  Secretary  of  the 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  125 

office,  and  one  of  the  lords  is  his  very  dear 
friend.” 

“Good ! Then  here  is  my  plan,”  and  the  jovial 
doctor  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  rubbing  his 
gloved  hands  together.  “The  only  chance  that 
will  do  that  girl  any  good  is  one  that  regards  Mr. 
Alden.  In  short,  I w^ant  to  put  her  strange  con- 
victions to  a test.” 

“But  how,  doctor?  I do  not  understand.” 
Lucy  was  standing  now,  her  eyes  wide  open  and 
dry. 

“Well,  how  would  this  do : If  you  should  say 
to  her  that  you  are  positive  that  the  lad  is  living, 
that  you  know  it  without  a shadow  of  a doubt, 
but  that  you  think  it  would  be  a good  thing  to  go 
over  the  ocean  and  see  for  yourselves?” 

“Do  you  mean ” 

“Yes ; that’s  just  what  I do  mean,”  replied  the 
doctor,  seeing  the  question  in  Lucy’s  eyes.  “Meet 
the  expedition  on  its  way  home.  You  know  that 
a relief  boat  is  to  be  sent  out  to  pick  up  all  these 
men  and  bring  them  home.  If  you  have  the 
power,  then  you  may  be  able  to  get  a permit  to 
go  on  board  and  help  in  the  rescuing  work.  You 
say  your  father  is  connected  with  this  office.  I 
am  in  favor  of  Miss  Benton  trying  this,  for  I can 


126  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

say  as  a medical  man  that  the  trip  will  benefit 
her  and  may  bring  her  back  her  lover — who 
knows?  Now,  what  do  you  think  about  my  plan?” 

“Splendid !”  replied  Lucy,  who  afterward 
blushed  when  she  remembered  that  she  had  been 
thinking  not  of  Clara,  but  of  seeing  her  own 
darling  husband  sooner  than  she  had  expected. 

“I  will  go  to  my  father  this  very  night,”  she 
said  eagerly;  “and  if  there  is  any  way  for  him  to 
manage  it  I am  sure  that  he  will.” 

“It  might  be  well,”  went  on  the  doctor,  looking 
at  her  critically,  “for  you  to  chip  in  a word  or 
two  with  the  lords,  for — you  are  a very  pretty 
woman,  Mrs.  Craton.” 

Lucy  blushed  and  laughed.  She  was  so  re- 
lieved, for  she  was  sure  that  Clara  would  jump 
at  the  chance  to  go  toward  Frank,  for,  at  any 
rate,  then  they  would  know. 

When  the  doctor  had  gone  Lucy  mounted  the 
long  stairs  with  a singing  heart.  Never  since 
Will  had  left  home  had  she  felt  so  happy.  It 
seemed  now  that  there  would  be  an  end  of  her 
difficulty. 

She  softly  opened  the  door  of  Clara’s  room  and 
wrent  in.  The  sight  that  met  her  eyes  she  would 
never  forget — never  as  long  as  she  should  live. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  \27 

Clara  was  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  her 
eyes  fixed  upon  nothing,  but  with  a vacant  stare, 
as  if  she  were  looking  backward  into  her  own 
soul.  Lucy  halted,  for  she  knew  that  another 
vision  was  being  given  the  girl.  Suddenly  she 
began  to  speak. 

“There’s  ice  and  snow  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach.” 

Then  she  halted  a moment,  and  her  eyes  grew 
restless  as  those  of  the  blind  when  one  is  anxious. 

“Frank  says  he  can  walk  no  farther.  His  limbs 
are  tired  and  he  is  starving  for  food.  He — he — 
says  that  they  must  go  on  and  leave  him.” 

The  words  were  falling  mechanically  from  her 
lips.  Her  eyes  still  held  to  vacancy. 

“The  Captain  says  they  must  go  on,  or  that 
they  will  all  become  weak  like  Frank  is.  He — he 
— is  in  the  snow.  It  is  Wardon  who  says  that  he 
will  stay  behind  with  Frank.  They  are  all  gone, 
and  Wardon,  with  the  devil  in  his  face,  is  bend- 
ing over ” 

The  vision  faded  here,  for  the  girl  gasped  for 
breath  and  dropped  upon  the  floor.  Lucy  leaned 
over  her. 

“Clara,  Clara!”  she  called.  “Child,  you  will 
lose  your  mind.  There,  don’t  do  that  again.” 


128  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

She  had  helped  the  girl  to  the  bed,  and  with 
gasping  sobs  Clara  explained  her  vision. 

“He  will  be  killed.  I shall  never  see  him  again 
— never.  That  man,  who  pretended  to  love  me, 
is  taking  his  precious  life  from  me.  I hate  him ! 
I hate  him  for  ever  and  ever!” 

Suddenly  there  came  into  her  eyes  another  ex- 
pression, and  she  held  out  her  hands. 

“Frank,  Frank,”  she  cried,  “while  you  can 
stand  keep  with  the  others.” 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  these  were  the  very 
words  that  Craton  had  shouted  to  his  friend  as 
the  rescuing  party  had  set  out. 

Lucy  had  to  use  strenuous  measures  to  recall 
the  girl  to  her  senses. 

“I  have  something  very  important  to  say  to 
you,  Clara,  if  you  will  open  your  eyes,”  said  she. 

Clara  did  as  requested  and  rested  her  tired 
gaze  upon  her  friend. 

“Oh,  Lucy !”  she  gasped,  “it  was  so  awful — his 
suffering.  He  is  dead  by  this  time.  He  could  not 
live  through  such  snow  and  ice  with  his  small 
strength.  And,  Lucy,  T don’t  want  to  live  an- 
other moment.” 

“How  would  you  like  to  go  and  see  if  we  can 
find  him?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^29 

Clara  sat  up  straight.  These  words  made  her 
listen  intently.  She  did  not  exert  her  imagina- 
tion at  all  to  wonder  how  it  was  to  be  managed, 
but  the  words  in  themselves  were  enough  to  make 
her  listen. 

“The  doctor  says  he  thinks  that  we  could  go 
with  the  relief  boat  that  is  to  be  sent  after  the 
men,  and  you  know  that  my  father  is  connected 
with  all  such  work  here  in  London,  and  I won- 
dered if  you  would  not  like  me  to  get  three  passes, 
for  we  would  take  Molly  with  us  and  just  have 
a change.  Then  you  could  see  for  yourself  how 
everything  is.  And  the  doctor  says  that  the  Gov- 
ernment will  leave  no  stone  unturned,  but  that 
they  will  rescue  every  man  if  it  takes  a year. 
What  do  you  say  to  that?” 

“I  would  rather  go  than  to  do  anything  else  in 
all  the  world.” 

This  was  said  in  a wee,  gasping  tone;  but  the 
words  gathered  strength,  until  when  she  finished 
Clara  was  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  bed  and  was 
holding  tightly  to  Lucy’s  hand. 

“Oh ! do  you  mean  it?  Lucy,  will  you  take  me? 
for  I have  not  seen  him  die,  and  I want  to,  oh,  I 
want  to  go  so  very  much.”  Then  her  own  grief 
rather  assuaged,  she  said,  suddenly : “And  you 


130  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

will  see  Will  sooner  than  if  you  stayed  here; 
won’t  you?” 

“Yes,  weeks  sooner;  and  I am  so  happy  that 
you  consent  to  go,  dear.  Now,  then,  we  will  ask 
Molly.” 

Lucy  rang  the  bell,  and  the  good-natured  Irish- 
woman could  be  heard  clambering  up  the  stairs. 

“Molly,”  began  Lucy,  “Miss  Clara  and  I are 
going  to  join  the  relief  ship  that  goes  out  to  find 
our  boys.  Are  you  afraid  of  the  water?  You 
may  go  with  us  if  you  like.” 

Molly  was  dumb  with  amazement  for  a mo- 
ment. 

“Does  yer  mean,  mum,  thet  I ken  go  wid  yer 
to  find  me  stuttering  Jim?  I ain’t  afraid  of  the 
divil  himself  when  it  comes  to  thet,  miss.” 

“Then  you  get  our  things  ready,  for  I shall 
have  to  go  to  my  father  and  ask  for  the  passes.” 

Already  there  was  a great  change  in  Clara. 
She  had  risen  from  the  bed  with  renewed  life. 
Her  effort  from  that  moment  would  be  to  live 
until  she  should  find  that  her  darling  was  dead. 
She  waited  patiently  until  Lucy  returned  with 
the  good  news  that  the  relief  ship  started  the 
next  Saturday  and  that  room  would  be  reserved 
for  the  three  women  without  fail. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


131 


CHAPTER  IX. 

That  Frank  Alden  was  utterly  unconscious  of 
the  battle  going  on  between  Wardon  and  Craton 
was  shown  by  the  puzzled  expression  as  he  gave 
the  final  wave  of  his  hand  to  the  latter,  as  he  said, 
audibly : 

“Of  course  I shall  keep  with  the  others.  Does 
he  think  that  I am  going  to  lag  behind  or  to  run 
ahead  like  a silly  schoolboy?” 

Captain  Harding  heard  him  and  smiled. 

“Craton  seemed  to  believe  that  some  monstrous 
disaster  was  to  happen  you  if  you  took  this  trip. 
To  me  it  is  much  more  preferable  than  hanging 
about  camp.” 

“And  to  me,”  replied  Frank,  as  he  drew  his  fur 
hood  farther  down  over  his  nostrils,  as  the  cut- 
ting, icy  wind  seemed  to  take  away  his  breath. 

It  was  as  Craton  had  said — Frank  had  just 
risen  from  a sick-bed.  He  had  the  signs  of  fa- 
tigue already  upon  him.  But  keep  with  the 
others?  Why,  it  meant  death  if  he  did  not.  ! 


132  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

For  two  days  they  traveled,  stopping  only  at 
night  to  sleep,  each  man  rolling  in  his  blanket 
and  dropping  wherever  night  found  them. 

Richard  Wardon  kept  his  eye  continually  upon 
Frank.  There  raged  in  his  heart  always  the  de- 
sire to  kill  this  young  lover  of  Clara  Benton ; but 
he  waited,  for  he  knew  that  kindly  fate  would 
give  him  an  opportunity  to  be  alone  with  Frank, 
to  explain  why  he  was  committing  such  a das- 
tardly deed.  Had  he  not  sworn  to  take  vengeance 
upon  these  two  for  destroying  his  happiness? 

He  always  made  it  a point  to  throw  himself 
next  to  Frank  at  night,  fearing  that  something 
might  happen  that  he  would  not  know  about. 
Now  that  he  had  him  he  should  not  escape  with- 
out a struggle.  Many  were  the  twinges  of  his 
conscience  that  Richard  Wardon  had.  Every 
time  he  looked  at  the  slender,  boyish  figure  with 
the  bundle  over  his  shoulder  his  heart  failed  in 
its  determination.  But  he  had  only  to  go  back 
to  the  night  when  Clara  had  enlightened  him  that 
she  loved  him  not  and  did  love  another  to  re- 
establish his  desire  for  blood.  His  big  form 
shook  with  emotion  one  night  as  they  lay  covered 
with  their  large  army  blankets. 

Frank  was  too  close  not  to  notice. 


I 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^03 

“Are  you  ill,  Wardon?”  lie  asked,  lifting  liis 
head  and  peering  through  the  cold  air  at  his  com- 
panion. 

“No.” 

Frank  thought  he  heard  a sound  of  tears;  but 
the  tone  was  so  disgruntled  that  he  remained  si- 
lent for  a few  moments,  and  then,  as  the  strange 
writhings  went  on,  he  continued,  in  a whisper : 

“Dick — let  me  call  you  so,  for  we  are  now 
brothers  in  misery — you  are  suffering,  I know. 
Won’t  you  let  me  comfort ” 

“Comfort  to  the  devil !”  replied  Wardon.  “Go 
to  sleep  and  shut  your  head ! What  does  a boy 
like  you  know  of  suffering?  Nothing,  absolutely 
nothing !” 

Frank  did  as  he  was  requested  in  one  particu- 
lar— he  shut  his  mouth,  but  did  not  go  to  sleep. 
How  could  he,  when  there  rested  upon  his  heart 
the  fact  that  in  some  way  Wardon  disliked  him? 
Never  had  he  been  spoken  to  in  that  manner,  and 
he  would  be  careful  in  the  future  not  to  offer  his 
well-meaning  attentions  again. 

When  they  arose  in  the  morning  Richard  War- 
don grunted  out  a good  morning  to  everybody 
who  took  the  pains  to  speak  to  him.  But  Frank 
did  not  open  his  lips.  He  was  wounded  to  the 


134  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

depth  of  his  tender  young  heart.  He  had  told 
Craton  that  Wardon  was  a bear — so  he  was. 

He  packed  his  blanket  slowly  as  he  thought 
these  things.  Once  he  raised  his  head  and  looked 
at  Wardon,  and  found  the  piercing  black  eyes 
upon  him.  He  dropped  his  own  beneath  the  gaze, 
but  all  through  that  day  he  wondered  what  it 
meant.  There  had  been  an  explanation  under  it, 
but  why  was  it  not  forthcoming?  Frank  had  the 
impression  that  he  would  be  spoken  to  by  Rich- 
ard— something  would  be  said. 

But  he  waited  in  vain,  and  the  two  men  did  not 
speak  again  until  the  next  morning,  when  they 
were  all  taking  counsel  together. 

The  Captain  said  that  they  ought  to  reach  a 
camp  in  two  more  days  by  the  figures  upon  the 
chart  he  was  studying. 

Frank  uttered  a groan. 

“Two  interminable  days ! I cannot  wait  that 
long ! I am  simply  too  weak  to  go  any  further.” 

And  suddenly  he  began  to  look  so.  His  fair, 
boyish  face  looked  old  and  haggard.  He  had  a 
stoop  about  the  shoulders  that  comes  with  age 
or  weakness.  His  eyes  had  filled  with  tears. 

“It’s  not  brave,  boys,”  he  said,  at  last,  dashing 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^35 

the  water  from  his  eyes,  “but  I want  you  all  to 
go  on  without  me.  I can’t  go  any  farther.” 

The  terrible  chill  of  the  ice  about  them  and 
the  boy’s  words  startled  every  man  into  action. 

“Come,  come,”  roared  the  Captain;  “this  will 
never  do,  Frank.  You  will  make  me  wish  I had 
left  you  behind  with  Craton.  He  thought  you 
were  too  ill  to  travel.” 

“So  I was,”  replied  Frank,  “much  too  ill,  and 
I’m  ill  now ; but  I don’t  want  any  one  to  be  kept 
back  from  life  on  my  account.” 

Richard  Wardon  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant. 
“Get  up,  boy,”  he  ordered ; “get  up,  you  are  all 
right.  Here,  give  me  your  bundle.” 

The  better  nature  in  Wardon  was  struggling 
hard  to  put  down  the  wicked  one.  He  often,  as 
this  morning,  abandoned  his  threat  and  oath  that 
had  been  a part  of  his  being  so  long. 

The  boy  looked  so  frail ! 

For  a moment  Frank  had  demurred  in  giving 
up  his  burden,  but  Richard  had  taken  it  by  force. 
Then  he  took  hold  of  Frank’s  arm,  and  again  the 
cavalcade  went  on.  There  was  nothing  said  be- 
tween the  two  men,  but  somehow  the  younger 
man,  who  had  almost  faced  death,  felt  that  he 
was  receiving  a new  lease  upon  life  and  obtaining 


136  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

vTarmth  from  the  big  body  so  close  to  him.  Rich- 
ard was  having  a fight  with  himself.  There  was 
something  infinitely  sweet  in  giving  to  his  enemy, 
although  he  knew  that  later  he  would  take  his  all. 
Out  of  the  abundance  of  his  strength  he  would 
give  to  this  youth  until — well,  Richard  did  not 
know  how  long  he  could  keep  the  fiery  devil  that 
raged  within  him  in  subjection. 

All  he  said  to  Frank  was : 

“Craton  told  you  to  keep  with  the  others  while 
you  could  walk.” 

Tears  again  sprang  into  Frank’s  eyes. 

“You’re  too  good  to  me,  Dick,”  he  said.  “For- 
give the  way  I treated  you  this  morning.  I really 
did  not  intend  to  be  so  boorish.” 

He  half  expected  that  Richard  would  say  the 
same  to  him,  but  there  was  no  response;  so  all 
through  the  long,  cold  day  he  half  walked  and 
was  half  dragged,  until  he  seemed  to  have  no  life 
left  in  him. 

Toward  evening  they  camped,  and  one  of  the 
stronger  of  the  party  caught  a young  animal 
skimming  over  the  ice.  It  was  brought  down 
with  one  quick  shot. 

As  it  was  being  dressed  Wardon  took  his  tin 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ]_3J 

cup  and  caught  the  fresh,  warm  blood  that  ran 
from  the  quivering  heart. 

“You  are  to  drink  this,”  he  said  to  Frank,  and 
with  quiet  obedience  the  lad  did  as  he  was  bid- 
den. After  that  he  slept  until  the  morning,  and 
he  heard  the  stirring  of  the  men  who  lighted  the 
fires,  and  soon  he  smelled  broiling  meat.  It  en- 
tered into  his  nostrils  as  the  song  of  a bird  does 
into  the  wanderer’s  heart  as  he  traverses  the  des- 
ert. The  odor  made  him  sit  up  quickly,  and  he 
felt  better  and  stronger  for  Richard’s  attention 
the  night  before.  He  would  not  have  believed 
that  there  could  be  so  much  life  in  one  glassful 
of  fresh  blood. 

Through  the  day  Richard  still  kept  him  to  his 
side.  That  night  closer  than  ever  the  two  men, 
whose  lives  had  so  crossed,  lay  without  a word. 
Then  again  extreme  weakness  came  over  Frank. 
They  could  not  be  fortunate  enough  to  catch 
young  animals  every  day.  The  rigors  of  the  trip 
had  told  on  every  man  saving  Richard.  He  had 
only  become  a little  more  bronzed,  a little  more 
broad-shouldered,  as  he  raised  his  head  often  to 
take  in  the  deep,  icy  air. 

He  lay  close  to  Frank  that  night,  and  then  .a 
thought  diabolical  as  it  was  ingenious  came  into 


138  UNDER  THE  NORTH  OTAR. 

his  head.  He  could  not  give  up  his  desire  to  kill 
this  man,  to  torture  him  as  he  himself  had  been 
tortured.  But  some  mightier  power  than  his  own 
seemed  to  be  holding  him  back.  He  often  thought 
that  he  was  simply  helping  Frank,  to  make  the 
end  more  poignant  for  his  enemy,  more  delightful 
for  himself. 

He  would  make  Frank,  the  lover  of  Clara,  fan 
into  life  the  dying  flame  of  his  revenge;  for  the 
big  man  knew  that  it  was  dying,  this  strange  de- 
sire of  his,  and  he  would  not  permit  it.  He  would 
carry  out  the  scheme  of  his  life.  Frank  should 
die,  and  he  should  have  the  pleasure  of  telling 
Clara  of  her  lover’s  death  agony. 

With  this  terrible  thought  running  through  his 
mind,  he  drew  a little  closer  to  Frank.  They 
were  apart  from  the  others  and  whispering  would 
not  disturb  these  tired  men. 

“When  you  get  back  to  London  what  do  you 
intend  to  do?”  he  asked,  close  to  Frank’s  ear. 

Frank  started,  for  he  had  not  expected  to  ex- 
change confidences  with  Wardon. 

“I  shall  leave  the  navy,  for  one  thing,”  Frank 
whispered  back ; “then,  after  that,  I shall  be  mar- 
ried.” 

“To  Miss  Benton?”  asked  Richard,  his  voice 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  J39 

quivering  in  its  slowness.  Speaking  that  name 
was  as  magic  to  him.  His  heart  beat  furiously 
and  his  anger  rose  with  each  moment. 

“Yes,  to  Miss  Benton,”  replied  Frank,  adding 
fuel  to  the  fire. 

“Are  you  as  fond  of  her  as  when  you  first  left 
home?”  asked  Wardon,  again  keeping  his  voice 
in  a whisper. 

“More  than  ever,”  replied  Frank.  “She  is  a 
girl  that  would  inspire  deep  feelings  in  any  man 
living.  Her  heart  is  like  steel  to  any  one  she 
loves,  and  I had  her  positive  assurance  that  she 
loved  me.” 

“She  told  you  so?” 

“Many,  many  times,”  went  on  Frank;  “and  if 
I could  see  her  now  I should  get  well.  A man 
needs  a woman’s  helping  hand  and  a woman’s 
love  when  he  feels  like  I do.” 

“Maybe  she  has  not  remained  true  to  you,” 
Wardon  said,  testily.  “I  loved  a woman  once 
and  she  made  me  believe  that  she  loved  me.  Then, 
when  I came  back,  after  a two-year  trip,  she  had 
pledged  herself  to  another.” 

“Then  she  never  loved  you,”  replied  Frank, 
raising  his  voice  a little.  “It  has  always  been 
my  belief  that  a woman  loves  but  once,  the  same 


^40  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

as  a man.  They  may  think  they  do,  but  tliey 
don’t.  Now,  Clara  Benton  told  me  that  she  had 
never  loved  before,  and  I know  plagued  well  I 
never  knew  such  joy  as  I felt  that  night  when  she 
told  me  she  would  be  my  wife  when  I returned. 
She  could  not  be  untrue  to  me,  telling  me  with 
those  lips.” 

How  vividly  Richard  remembered  that  the 
same  rosy  lips  had  been  kissed  by  his.  But,  of 
course,  he  could  not  say  even  to  himself  that 
Clara  had  promised  to  be  his  wife.  He  had  taken 
her  by  storm,  had  used  his  passion  for  her  as 
insistence  that  she  should  one  day  be  his. 

But  he  had  believed  as  surely  as  there  was  a 
God  in  heaven  that  Clara  Benton  would  be  wait- 
ing for  him  when  he  returned.  Of  course,  how 
could  any  woman,  after  spending  the  months  to- 
gether they  had  that  one  sweet  winter,  be  any- 
thing but  true ! All  this  time  his  temper  and  rage 
were  being  rekindled  into  a great  jealous  flame. 
The  weak  man  at  his  side  did  not  understand, 
although  he  heard  the  quick  breath  going  and 
coming ; he  attributed  it  to  feelings  that  memory 
had  aroused. 

There  was  no  more  said  that  night,  and  the 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  141 

next  morning,  after  a drink  of  hot  water,  they 
struggled  on. 

It  was  along  toward  niglit  that  the  end  came. 
Frank  had  kept  a silence,  using  his  strength  for 
the  march.  As  they  came  within  about  two  hours 
of  camp  he  said,  with  a groan : 

“There  is  no  use  asking  me.  I can  go  no  far- 
ther. I insist  that  you  all  go  on,  for  if  you  camp 
here,  then  you  will  lose  a day.  I could  not  do 
better  to-morrow.” 

The  Captain  was  standing  over  him. 

“Come,  come,  old  fellow;  it  may  not  be  but  a 
few  miles  farther  on,  and  then  we  will  find  a 
camp.  I beg  of  you  to  try  and  walk.” 

“No  use,  Captain;  no  earthly  use.” 

Frank  did  not  make  a move  to  rise.  His  weak- 
ness had  gained  over  his  strength  and  he  lay  quite 
still. 

“Then,”  said  the  Captain,  “we  cannot  leave 
him  alone  to  die.  It  is  only  a short  distance  to 
camp — that  I know.  It  can’t  be  over  twenty 
miles,  but  God  knows  that’s  far  enough  over  this 
awful  ice.  If  life  could  be  kept  in  him  until  we 
could  send  out  others  with  food  to  bring  him  in.” 
He  hesitated  as  he  looked  about.  He  was  ask- 
ing, although  not  in  so  many  words,  that  some 


142  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

one  would  volunteer  to  stay  with  the  sick  man 
until  help  could  be  sent. 

“I  will  care  for  him/’  said  Richard.  “I  desire 
to.” 

The  Captain  looked  Wardon  in  the  face. 

“Do  you  mean  that  you  will  remain  with  the 
boy  until  we  can  send  help  to  rescue  you  both? 
I shall  never  forget  this,  Wardon.” 

WTardon  turned  away  with  an  evil  smile  upon 
his  lips.  All  through  that  day  Frank’s  words  had 
been  running  in  his  head. 

Clara  Benton  had  never  loved  before.  She 
loved  only  Frank.  No  other  man  had  made  her 
feel  the  thrill  of  life  or  the  desire  to  be  loved. 

He  set  his  jaw  over  his  white  teeth. 

His  hour  for  revenge  had  come  and  it  was 
sweet,  very  sweet.  He  felt  somewhat  as  he  knew 
a cat  might  feel  when  she  had  a small  mouse 
under  her  paw.  To  let  it  go  a little  distance  and 
then  to  draw  it  back  was  delight,  indeed.  He 
had  done  this  to  Frank  Alden;  although  he  ad- 
mitted to  himself  that  he  had  at  one  time  during 
the  march  given  up  the  thought  of  his  revenge. 
But  how  those  words  of  the  boy’s  maddened  his 
brain ! 

“It’s  good  of  you,  Dick” — and  Frank  raised 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  443 

upon  his  elbow  as  he  spoke — “awfully  good  of 
you  to  stay  with  me.  But  I would  rather  you 
would  not  risk  your  life  for  me.” 

Again  the  smile  crossed  the  set  lips.  He  would 
have  risked  much  more  than  his  life,  so  Richard 
told  himself  as  he  made  ready  the  camp,  to  satisfy 
the  terrible  passion  that  tugged  at  his  heart- 
strings. He  could  have  gone  on  with  the  rest, 
could  have  left  the  lad  to  his  fate;  but  there  would 
be  much  satisfaction  in  seeing  the  end,  to  know 
that  there  was  no  one,  no  light-haired,  blue-eyed 
boy  between  him  and  Clara  Benton. 

Through  the  night  he  never  closed  his  eyes. 
He  had  spread  part  of  his  blanket  over  Frank, 
saying  to  himself  as  he  did  so  that  ’twas  like  a 
tiny  toss  of  the  little  mouse  by  the  bright-eyed 
cat ; nothing  to  hurt  the  victim,  yet  there  was  sat- 
isfaction in  it  for  the  cat.  Once  Frank  turned 
over,  groaning,  and  Richard  tucked  the  blankets 

more  warmly  about  him. 

******** 

The  morning  found  the  party  who  had  gone 
on  ahead  of  Richard  and  Frank  nearer  camp 
than  they  had  hoped  to  be.  They  now  came  upon 
the  tracks  of  men  and  dogs.  The  Captain  saw 
this  with  a beating  heart.  He  thought  of  the  two 


144  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

men  he  had  left  behind  upon  the  ice  and  an  in- 
ward prayer  for  their  safety  crossed  his  mind. 
He  would  never  forget  what  Wardon  had  done — 
never.  He  knew  that  it  must  have  been  a struggle 
to  remain  behind  the  rest  when  they  were  so  near 
to  liberty  and  life. 

He  would  report  this  in  London,  and  it  should 
go  down  to  the  young  man’s  credit.  He  was  so 
good  in  his  own  heart,  and  there  was  nothing  of 
the  devil  in  him,  that  he  would  not  have  believed 
that  any  man  could  have  worked  out  such  a 
scheme  just  to  satisfy  his  desire  for  vengeance. 
They  would  not  take  camp  that  night,  but  push 
on,  for  the  signs  of  life  were  too  sure  to  be  mis- 
taken. He  estimated  that  they  had  left  Frank 
and  Wardon  back  about  twenty  miles,  while  the 
camp  ahead  could  not  be  more  than  one  mile 
away.  When  they  first  saw  smoke  there  was  a 
general  thanksgiving,  and  when  they  marched 
triumphant  into  the  camp,  which  held  many 
white  men,  they  gave  praise  to  God  through  the 
hearty  shouts  and  the  devouring  of  good  food 
which  they  had  not  tasted  for  months. 

******** 

To  leave  Wardon  and  Frank  together  for  long 
without  something  happening  could  not  be.  The 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  445 

morning  opened  with  a terrific  snow-storm  blow- 
ing the  white  flakes  like  so  many  feathers  oyer 
the  ice  and  completely  covering  the  sleeping  men. 
Richard  lifted  his  head  with  an  oath.  They  conld 
not  stay  like  this;  they  would  both  die;  and 
somehow,  in  the  majesty  of  the  falling  snow  and 
the  roaring  of  the  wind,  his  revenge  died  for  a 
moment. 

He  looked  at  Frank.  He  knew  that  the  boy 
could  not  walk  one  mile  in  such  a raging  storm. 
He  stood  trying  to  peer  through  the  white  mass 
of  falling  flakes,  when  Frank  stirred  in  his  blan- 
ket and  wakened  with  a groan. 


146 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

The  relief  boat  ploughed  her  great  way 
through  the  rough  waters  with  three  anxious 
women  on  board.  Clara  had  gathered  together 
her  strength,  and  the  excitement  of  the  trip  had 
made  a new  woman  of  her.  She  felt  sure  that 
she  should  hear  something  of  her  darling  before 
it  would  have  been  possible  had  she  remained  at 
home,  and  Lucy’s  absolute  faith  in  the  return  of 
both  their  wanderers  made  the  time  seem  short 
to  the  tortured  girl.  Even  Molly  had  the  sublime 
faith  that  the  good  Mr.  Craton  and  Frank  and 
her  own  stuttering  sailor  would  be  given  to  them 
to  nurse  back  to  health. 

The  weather  was  dreadful,  icebergs  looming 
up  in  the  distance  several  times,  and  the  extreme 
cold  making  it  impossible  for  any  of  the  party 
to  be  on  deck.  But  Clara  was  glad  to  remain  in 
her  stateroom,  for  she  was  so  seasick,  so  worried, 
that  pleasure  had  no  chance  to  interest  her.  She 
had  been  assured  by  the  father  of  Mrs.  Craton, 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ±±J 

who  was  up  in  state  affairs,  that  there  would  be 
no  danger  to  any  of  them  to  accompany  the  re- 
lief and  that  there  would  be  every  opportunity 
for  her  finding  out  the  truth  about  her  sweet- 
heart. Lucy  had  taken  the  passes  with  thanks- 
giving. Although  she  loved  Clara,  best  of  all 
she  loved  her  husband,  whom  she  would  be  with 
in  a few  weeks. 

It  seemed  months  before  they  were  told  that 
they  were  off  the  Newfoundland  coast,  where 
they  would  commence  their  way  toward  the 
wrecked  expedition.  One  morning  the  Captain 
of  the  relief  boat  was  talking  to  Mrs.  Craton. 

“We  saw  by  one  of  the  London  papers,”  she 
was  saying,  “that  one  part  of  the  men  had  been 
rescued.  Now,  my  husband  was  among  the  num- 
ber.” 

“It  may  be  true,  madam,”  replied  the  officer, 
“for  all  that  I know,  and  if  it  is,  then  we  shall 
find  them  at  the  English  Government  camp;  but 
we  have  some  trotting  to  do  before  that.” 

Such  excitement  had  never  reigned  in  a 
woman’s  heart  before.  Lucy’s  eyes  sparkled  with 
delight.  Clara  remained  rather  passive.  She  told 
Lucy  the  morning  after  they  had  started  from  the 
ship  toward  the  camp  that  she  felt  in  her  heart 


148  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

that  at  that  moment  Frank  was  living,  but  that 
if  he  died  she  was  willing  to  go  with  him.  Her 
faith  in  her  lover  was  supreme.  Clara  had  that 
hope  that  lives  eternal  in  a woman’s  heart  that 
Frank  still  loved  her,  that  he  would  always  love 
her,  no  matter  what  happened. 

******** 

When  Captain  Harding  and  his  crew  of  men 
walked  into  the  camp,  where  savory  meat  was 
broiling  over  the  fire,  and  where  men  in  fur  robes 
Avere  bustling  to  and  fro,  he  knelt  down  and  with 
gratitude  thanked  God  for  Avhat  had  been  done 
for  him  and  his  sailors.  He  immediately  set  about 
preparing  a lot  of  men  with  warm  robes  and 
enough  to  eat  for  the  starving  comrades  left  be- 
hind them  on  the  trail.  He  explained  about 
Frank  and  Wardon,  and  that  many  sick  men  had 
been  left  at  the  huts,  miles  to  the  north. 

The  men  who  had  the  camp  in  charge  were 
only  too  anxious  to  extend  help  to  the  distin- 
guished Englishmen ; so  a sledge  of  dogs  was  put 

i 

in  readiness  and  sent  out,  Avith  Captain  Harding 
to  pilot  them. 

Never  had  there  been  a more  thankful  man. 
He  would  be  in  full  time  to  save  his  dear  com- 
rades, the  men  who  had  left  England  with  him. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  449 

He  loved  with  his  whole  soul  Craton,  and  had  a 
great  admiration  for  Frank,  to  say  nothing  of 
Wardon.  Arrangements  had  been  made  for  sev- 
eral men  to  return  to  the  camp  with  Frank  Alden 
and  Richard  as  soon  as  they  should  be  found, 
while  the  rest  pressed  on  toward  the  huts. 

Jimmy  had  been  left  behind  at  the  camp,  be- 
cause he  had  contracted  a terrible  cold;  so  he 
watched  the  Captain  and  the  strangers  climb 
into  the  sledge  and  saw  it  glide  away  through 
the  falling  snow. 

******** 

Craton  busied  himself  with  the  sick  after  the 
departure  of  the  others.  He  saw  that  there  had 
been  no  other  way  for  the  rescue  to  take  place, 
and  knew  that  the  Captain’s  desire  to  find  a near- 
by camp  had  been  not  from  a selfish  motive  of 
finding  an  escape  for  himself,  but  out  of  sheer 
love  for  his  men. 

So,  as  the  days  passed,  and  one  after  another 
of  the  bunks  was  chopped  up  for  firewood,  and 
he  watched  the  sick  grow  weaker  and  weaker,  his 
heart  went  out  in  prayer  that  help  would  come 
to  them  soon.  He  sent  John  out  time  after  time 
to  scurry  about  for  bones,  which  was  the  only 
food  they  had  by  which  he  could  keep  the  life  in 


150  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

his  companions.  The  hot  soup  was  given  every 
few  moments. 

He  knew  that  the  Captain  would  return  as 
soon  as  it  were  possible,  and  so  when  the  fourth 
day  had  gone  by  he  hoped  to  hear  something. 

His  fears  for  Frank  had  somewhat  subsided. 
He  had  worried  himself  into  a different  frame  of 
mind.  Wardon  would  not  dare  to  do  anything 
to  the  young  fellow  when  there  were  so  many 
others  about,  and  he  had  warned  Frank  to  stay 
with  the  rest. 

Still  another  day,  the  fifth,  and  then  the  sixth 
went  slowly  by.  The  fuel  had  given  out,  and  a 
terrible  snow-storm  was  making  it  infinitely 
worse.  He  dared  not  send  out  the  men  to  look 
for  food  or  bones,  for  fear  they  would  be  lost  in 
the  blizzard,  and  yet  he  knew  that  the  sick  needed 
what  little  could  be  found.  On  the  morning  of 
the  seventh  day  he  awoke  with  thanksgiving  in 
his  heart.  The  sun  was  shining  through  the  small 
slant  window  of  his  room. 

He  called  John  to  him  immediately. 

“Any  bones  left,  old  man?”  he  asked,  lifting 
his  head  and  looking  greedily  at  the  sunshine. 

“Not  a one,  sir,”  replied  the  sailor,  who  had 
grown  deplorably  thin  in  the  last  few  weeks; 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ^51 

“and  there  is  a man  dying,  so  the  doctor  says, 
’cause  he’s  nothing  but  starved  to  death.  And 
there’s  no  show  a-getting  anything  on  a morning 
like  this,  even  if  ’tis  fine.” 

Craton  turned  his  head  away  and  grunted.  He 
dreaded  death  worse  than  anything.  His  faith  in 
the  return  of  the  Captain  was  at  a low  ebb. 

“You  see,  sir,”  went  on  John,  “the  others  might 
’a’  bin  caught  in  a storm — no  telling.  Now,  what 
on  the  earth  air  we  a-going  to  do?  We  can’t  go 
and  leave  these  fellows  here  to  die,  with  the  doc- 
tor just  on  his  last  legs,  too,  and  you  and  me,  sir, 
’bout  the  only  ones  able  to  walk.” 

“God,  John !”  cried  Craton,  jumping  out  of  his 
bunk  in  a hurry,  “don’t  mention  the  loss  of  the 
rescuing  party  in  this  snow.  It  would  take  away 
our  last  hope.  Light  a fire  and  we’ll  give  them 
all  a lot  of  hot  water.” 

“Ain’t  no  more  wood,”  replied  John,  drily. 
“Then  break  up  my  bunk;  I’ll  sleep  on  the 
floor.  The  men  must  have  water,  and  if  we  can 
keep  them  alive  for  a few  days  help  will  surely 
come.” 

He  was  desperate  when  he  said  this,  and  John, 
without  a word,  obeyed  the  tone  in  his  superior’s 
voice. 


152  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

The  morning  lagged  by  as  if  lead  was  dragging 
at  its  wings.  Then,  just  as  the  last  installment 
of  hot  water  had  been  poured  down  the  eager 
throats  of  the  sick  sailors,  a sound  of  bells  was 
brought  to  Craton  upon  the  clear  air. 

He  stooped  and  listened,  at  first  fearing  that 
his  mind  had  given  way.  Then  the  sound  came 
nearer  and  nearer,  until  a shout  from  John 
brought  him  into  the  sunlight. 

“They’re  a-comin’,  Mr.  Craton,  they’re  a-com- 
in’,”  yelled  the  sailor,  and  he  sent  his  fur  cap 
whirling  into  the  air. 

And  come  they  did.  Never  had  there  been  a 
happier  moment  in  the  life  of  the  Captain  than 
when  he  hurried  the  good  food  into  the  famished 
sailors. 

“But  there  is  one  thing  that  puzzles  me,”  said 
he,  later,  when  he  and  Craton  were  alone  and  the 
sailors  were  making  ready  to  leave  the  huts. 
“Frank  Alden  was  so  weak  we  had  to  leave  him 
a distance  behind  the  rest,  and  when  we  sent 
men  out  from  the  sledge  to  find  him  and  Wardon 
there  was  no  trace  of  them  in  the  snow.  I fear 
they  have  either  been  devoured  by  wild  beasts  or 
that  something  worse  has  happened  to  them.” 

Craton  groaned. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  153 

“Then  Frank  could  not  go  on  with  the  rest?” 
he  said  anxiously.  “And  how  did  Wardon  come 
to  be  with  him?” 

“The  young  fellow  got  into  such  a condition 
that  we  could  not  force  him  to'  walk  another  step, 
and  Wardon  offered  to  stay  behind  and  watch 
him  until  we  should  return.  When  we  got  to 
that  place  there  was  no  sight  of  them  and  the 
snow  had  covered  their  traces.” 

Again  Craton  turned  away  with  a troubled  ex- 
pression in  his  eyes.  He  longed  to  tell  the  Cap- 
tain his  fears,  and  yet  if  he  had  been  unneces- 
sarily worried,  then  he  would  be  doing  an  in- 
justice to  Wardon.  Possibly  the  men  had  gone 
in  the  wrong  direction. 

He  said  this  to  the  Captain,  and  the  latter 
patted  his  guide,  which  was  in  his  inner  pocket. 

“No  chance  of  that,”  was  the  answer;  “not 
while  I have  this.  No;  they  are  either  lost  in  the 
blizzard  in  trying  to  escape  death,  or ” 

“Don’t,  Captain,  don’t  mention  it.  The  thought 
is  bad  enough,  but  the  words  are  even  worse.” 

Then  he  coughed,  and  the  Captain  looked  up 
expectantly. 

“Craton,  you  know  more  than  you  will  tell  mb. 


154  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

Why  were  you  so  worried  over  that  boy  going 
with  us?” 

“He  was  ill,”  muttered  Craton,  not  yet  decided 
that  he  should  give  the  secret  to  his  superior. 

“But  there  is  something  that  I do  not  know,” 
replied  the  intuitive  Captain.  “Craton,  after  all 
we  have  borne  together,  can’t  you  trust  me?” 

“That  I will !”  blurted  out  Craton.  “Wardon 
had  just  found  out  before  leaving  here  that  Frank 
Alden  is  engaged  to  the  girl  that  he,  Wardon,  had 
loved  for  years.  He  had  sworn  to  me  many  times 
that  he  would  never  forgive  if  he  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  man,  and  I believe,  on  my  soul,  that 
Wardon  has  made  away  with  the  boy  and  then 
killed  himself.” 

“I  should  have  known  this  before,”  replied 
Harding,  gravely.  “I  might  have  prevented  a 
tragedy.  How  long  did  you  know  of  this  prior  to 
our  starting  out?” 

“Just  before,”  replied  Craton,  “and  I tried  to 
keep  Wardon  with  me;  but  even  you  were  against 
me,  and  so  I had  to  trust  to  heaven  to  avert  the 
probability  of  a crime.” 

“I  did  not  know,  you  see;  if  I had  had  only  a 
whisper,”  and  Captain  Harding  put  his  head  in 
his  hands.  “How  true  it  is,”  he  said,  after  a little 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  155 

while,  “that  all  the  trouble  on  earth  comes  to 
men  through  women.” 

“Yes;  and  all  the  heaven,”  replied  Craton. 

But  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  however.  The 
sick  were  wrapped  in  blankets  and  placed  upon 
the  huge  sledges,  where  the  patient  dogs  waited 
to  do  their  duty.  And  as  they  left,  Craton  turned 
and  looked  long  at  the  huts  that  had  been  their 
homes  so  many  months.  He  now  only  regretted 
that  he  did  not  know  where  Frank  and  Wardon 
were.  Somehow,  even  with  Wardon ’s  terrible 
thirst  for  revenge,  his  awful  feeling  of  hatred 
against  Frank,  Craton  could  not  but  have  a de- 
sire for  his  welfare.  He  could  so  well  remember 
that  trip  from  England,  when  Richard  had  con- 
fided to  him  his  sorrow.  But  how  strange  it  had 
been ! Craton  had  not  heard  the  name  of  the 
woman,  nor  had  he  ever  dreamed  of  asking. 

Slowly  the  dogs  pulled  their  enormous  weight 
over  the  deep  snow  which  now  covered  the  ice, 
and  it  was  almost  midnight  before  they  reached 
the  camp. 

Captain  Harding  gave  out  the  news  the  next 
morning  that  the  expedition  would  wait  there 
until  their  country  should  send  them  some  way 
of  returning  to  England.  A trapper  was  sent 


igg  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

out  to  the  first  station  with  the  meager  news  that 
a few  of  the  expedition  had  been  saved.  It  was 
this  clipping  from  the  paper  that  Lucy  had  clung 
to  with  such  hope.  The  sick  would  have  an  op- 
portunity to  get  well,  and  perhaps  they  would 
hear  something  of  Frank  and  Wardon. 

When  Clara  and  Lucy  were  tucked  into  the 
sledges  that  were  to  take  them  to  the  English 
camp  they  were  seated  side  by  side. 

“America  is  a very  large  place,”  said  Lucy, 
after  she  had  exhausted  her  curiosity  as  to  the 
sledges  and  dogs  which  were  to  take  them  on  their 
journey.  “I  should  have  liked  to  look  about  a 
little  if  Will  had  been  with  me.” 

“It  did  not  interest  me,”  replied  Clara.  “I  have 
but  one  thought  in  my  mind,  and  there  is  no  room 
for  any  other.” 

And  Lucy  did  not  have  to  ask  what  it  was;  the 
luster  in  the  eyes  of  her  companion  made  it  un- 
necessary. She  was  thinking  of  Frank;  of  his 
love  for  her;  the  delight  she  had  taken  in  the 
thought  that  he  might  be  still  alive.  And  once  a 
shadow  crossed  the  fair,  sweet  face,  and  then 
Lucy  understood  that  Richard  WTardon,  with  his 
evil  influence,  had  mixed  himself  with  her  day- 
dreams. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


157 


CHAPTER  XI. 

It  was  still  early  morning  when  the  sound  of 
bells  again  fell  upon  Craton’s  ears.  He  had  the 
privilege  of  sleeping  later  than  the  rest,  with  the 
exception  of  his  own  crew.  They  were  tired,  thin 
and  lean  from  hunger  and  cold.  So  it  was  de- 
creed that  the  first  streak  of  day  should  still  find 
them  in  their  beds.  His  impatience  to  hear  some- 
thing from  Wardon  and  Frank  had  cooled,  for  he 
now  felt  certain  that  they  both  were  dead.  Then 
his  thoughts  turned  toward  home  and  Lucy  with 
such  a longing  as  he  had  not  experienced  since 
leaving  England.  It  could  not  be  more  than  a 
month  before  they  would  be  transported.  He  be- 
lieved that  he  would  be  given  a long  vacation ; if 
not,  his  honorable  discharge  papers,  for  he  had 

served  long  and  faithfully,  and  his  health 

He  was  thinking  these  things  as  the  bells  fell 
upon  his  ears.  He  wondered  what  trappers  were 
coming  that  way  so  early  in  the  morning.  He 
had  heard  for  some  time  the  noises  made  from 


158  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

building  fires,  splitting  kindling,  and  then  the 
rattle  of  dishes.  The  jingling  of  bells  meant  that 
they  would  have  company  to  breakfast.  Some 
poor  devils,  no  doubt,  anxious  to  reach  some 
northern  point  of  which  they  knew  nothing.  Cra- 
ton  pitied  them.  Just  then  he  heard  a shout 
from  John  and  a stuttering  from  Jim. 

He  sprang  hastily  from  bed  and  pulled  on  his 
fur  clothes. 

Something  had  happened.  He  heard  the  sound 
of  women’s  voices,  and  yet  no  idea  of  the  truth 
struck  home  to  him.  He  went  outside  in  the  cold 
sun,  and  suddenly  a mist  came  before  his  eyes. 
A woman’s  arms  had  tightly  closed  about  his 
neck  and  Lucy’s  lips  were  kissing  his.  He  had 
no  strength  to  move.  He  simply  felt  cold  and 
limp.  His  nerves  tingled  as  if  they  had  sepa- 
rately been  stung  by  bees.  Lucy  was  there — only 
that  he  knew. 

“Will,  Will,  dear,  open  your  eyes  and  look  at 
me,  please  do.  I’m  here  with  you ; don’t  you  see 
that  I’m  here?” 

Yes;  he  knew  she  was  there,  and  only  that. 
The  whole  world  was  blotted  out  from  his  view ; 
every  other  sound  save  her  voice  was  dead  to  his 
ears.  Then  he  began  to  cry  weakly,  and  he  heard 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ]g<) 

the  Captain  say : “Poor  fellow ! the  surprise  has 
been  too  much  for  him.  There,  that  is  his  room. 
Take  him  there,  Mrs.  Craton.” 

When  Will  Craton  fully  realized  that  he  had 
his  beautiful  wife  with  him  he  then  felt  content. 

“Aren’t  you  glad  to  have  me  with  you?”  Lucy 
asked,  pressing  closer  to  her  husband.  “I  came 
because  I thought  it  would  make  you  so  happy.” 
“Happy,  happy ! That  is  not  the  word,”  mur- 
mured Craton.  “Why,  little  love- woman,  it  seems 
a century  since  I have  been  with  you.  Whatever 
possessed  you  to  come  into  such  a country  as 
this?” 

“Thoughts  of  you,”  she  replied,  her  voice  full 
of  tears ; “only  the  hope  that  I could  relieve  you 
a little,  and  just  to  be  with — my  husband.” 

There  was  silence  between  them  for  a while, 
and  then  they  heard  the  sound  of  weeping  and 
another  woman’s  voice  asking  excited  questions. 
It  had  not  been  so  well  with  Clara  and  her  love. 

She  shook  hands  with  the  Captain,  who  real- 
ized the  moment  he  had  placed  his  eyes  upon  her 
what  she  had  come  for,  and  his  spirit  groaned 
within  him. 

Clara  did  not  speak  to  Craton  until  afterward, 
because  she  knew  that  he  had  not  been  prepared 


1(}()  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

for  the  coming  of  his  wife,  and  she  did  not  seem 
to  notice  his  weakness.  Her  eyes  were  roving 
about  among  the  other  men.  She  turned  toward 
Captain  Harding. 

“Where  is  Mr.  Alden?”  she  said,  in  a penetrat- 
ing voice. 

The  officer  hesitated. 

“You  see,”  he  began,  “Mr.  Alden  just  at  the 
present  moment  is  missing.” 

“How  did  it  come?”  insisted  Clara,  her  large 
eyes  seeming  to  enter  the  very  fibres  of  the  Cap- 
tain’s soul. 

“He  could  not  keep  up  with  the  relief  party,” 
was  his  answer. 

“And  Mr.  Wardon — where  is  he?” 

“He  was  chosen  from  the  men  to  remain  at  the 
huts,  and  when  we  went  there  to  rescue  them  he 
was  also  missing.” 

The  Captain  muttered  a little  prayer  for  for- 
giveness. There  was  something  about  this  girl 
that  touched  his  heart.  He  could  not  bear  to  see 
the  expression  of  misery  in  her  eyes.  And  yet 
he  knew  that  there  was  nothing  left  for  him  to 
do  but  to  lie,  and  then  after  a while  he  would 
have  to  tell  the  truth.  He  imagined  from  the 


\ 

v,  v ' 

s?-  ■ 

UNDER  THB  NORTH  STAR. 

look  in  her  eyes  that  she  would  demand  of  him 
the  full  particulars. 

Clara  began  to  cry,  womanlike,  and  this  sound 
was  what  broke  the  silence  between  Craton  and 
his  wife. 

“Oh,”  said  Lucy,  lifting  her  head,  “where  is 
Frank?  I have  been  so  selfish  to  hear  about  you 
that  I have  forgotten  the  poor  girl.” 

She  heard  the  story  of  the  tragedy  with  a 
groan. 

“Of  course,  he  is  dead,”  she  assented  to  Cra- 
ton’s  suggestion.  “There  is  no  other  solution,  I 
am  sure.  But  I want  to  keep  it  from  her  that 

they  were  together ” And  no  sooner  had  she 

spoken  these  words  than  the  door  opened  and  the 
Captain  walked  in. 

He  explained  why  he  had  told  the  lie  to  Clara, 
or  the  prevarication,  as  he  afterward  explained 
to  Lucy. 

“It  was  not  a direct  falsehood,”  he  added,  “for 
Frank  did  disappear  from  the  relief  party,  and 
Wardon  was  elected  to  stay  at  the  huts.  Isn’t 
that  true?” 

“Yes,”  nodded  Craton,  with  his  fingers  tightly 
closed  on  Lucy’s  hand. 

“Then  we  must  both  stick  to  that  story,  and 


162  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR, 

maybe  she  will  be  able  to  reason  it  out  for  her- 
self after  a while,  and  it  won’t  be  such  a shock.” 
******** 

Molly  had  found  her  lover  during  this  conver- 
sation, and  it  was  John  only  now  who  looked  on 
with  envy.  He  very  much  disliked  the  stutterer 
to  be  so  divinely  happy;  but  there  was  no  use 
saying  anything,  for  no  one  seemed  to  listen. 

“If  I’d  known  this,”  he  said,  discontentedly, 
after  a few  moments,  forcing  Jim  to  hear  his 
words,  “that  I has  to  see  all  this  lovemaking,  I 
would  rather  never  have  been  rescued.  I would 
have  stayed  nearer  the  North  Pole.” 

“Pi-pi-pi-pity  you  didn’t  stay,  then,”  stam- 
mered Jim.  “You  would  not  have  been  missed 
much.” 

John  sent  him  a terrifying  glance. 

“You  think  ’cause  you  got  that  Irish  girl  with 
you  that  you’re  all  the  world  now;  don’t  you, 
Bateman?  But  you  ain’t  so  dam  much.  Mebbe 
if  she  haddent  seen  you  she  would  have  liked  me.” 

“No-no-no-no,  she  wouldn’t,”  giggled  Jimmy; 
“for  she  said  when  she  corned  here  and  set  her 
eyes  on  me  that  her  heart  was  almost  a-going  out 
of  her  body.” 

“So  was  yourn,  I bet,”  grunted  John.  “But  I 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  Igg 

don’t  care;  when  I get  back  to  England  I’m  going 
to  get  married,  and  I won’t  get  an  Irish  girl, 
either.” 

Jimmy  began  to  laugh. 

“What’s  the  matter  wid  you?”  asked  John, 
shortly,  stopping  in  his  work  to  look  at  his  com- 
panion. 

“I  was  a-laughing  at  you.  You  be  so  jealous 
’cause  you  ain’t  had  no  kisses.” 

John  grumbled  loudly. 

“Well,  if  you  could  see  your  own  face  when 
you’re  chewin’  the  Queen’s  English  ye’d  have 
something  nearer  home  to  laugh  at,  and  don’t 
you  forget  that.  You  put  me  in  mind  of  a dol- 
phin with  a toothache.” 

John’s  ideas  of  dolphins  were  vague,  but  the 
thought  came  into  his  mind  and  he  used  it.  Molly 
called  Jim  at  this  moment,  and  so  there  was  no 
chance  for  a retort. 

******** 

When  Lucy  next  saw  Clara  that  day  there  was 
such  an  expression  of  desperation  in  her  eyes  that 
the  kind-hearted  little  woman  shuddered. 

They  met  just  before  the  savory  meal  which 
had  been  prepared  by  the  kindly  trappers. 


164  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

Mrs.  Craton  whispered,  her  thoughts  to  her 
husband. 

“I’m  so  worried  about  her,  Will,”  she  said. 
“Look  at  her  face — it’s  like  death.  She  knows 
that  she  has  not  been  told  the  truth.” 

“The  Captain  feels  the  same  way  you  do, 
Lucy,”  replied  Craton.  “How  can  we  be  honor- 
able and  yet  merciful  ?” 

“But  she  knows,  Will,  dear,  that  Wardon  and 
Frank  were  together” — and  here  Lucy  told  the 
story  of  the  dream  in  London — “and  I heard  her 
myself  call  out,  in  a trembling  voice : ‘While  you 
can  stand  keep  with  the  others,  Frank.’  It  was 
while  she  had  that  vision.” 

Craton  whitened  to  his  lips. 

“How  very  strange,  Lucy!  I myself  warned 
the  boy  in  those  words,  for  I feared  that  Wardon 
would  kill  him.” 

“But  don’t  acknowledge  it  to  her,”  cautioned 
Lucy.  “As  long  as  you  cannot  honestly  say  that 
Frank  is  dead,  and  by  Wardon’s  hand,  then  it  is 
not  deceiving  her.  Just  mislead  her  a little  for 
her  own  sake.  Hush ! She  is  here  and  is  going 
to  question  you.” 

Clara’s  eyes  still  had  in  them  that  penetrating 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  165 

expression  that  had  so  muddled  the  poor  Cap- 
tain. Men  always  find  it  hard  to  lie  to  a woman 
with  those  kind  of  eyes.  And  Craton  and  the 
Captain  were  no  exceptions  to  the  rule. 

Clara  looked  from  Lucy  to  her  husband,  and 
then  quickly  back  into  her  friend’s  face. 

“You  will  neither  of  you  believe,”  she  said  at 
last,  “that  it  would  be  an  act  of  friendship  to  tell 
me  the  truth.  There  is  such  an  air  of  mystery 
about  everybody  that  I cannot  understand  it, 
Lucy.  Will,  I beg  of  you,  by  your  love  for  your 
wife,  to  tell  me  what  you  know.” 

“My  dear  Clara,”  replied  Craton,  slowly, 
“what  have  I said  that  you  should  think  that  I 
am  not  telling  you  the  truth?” 

“It  is  not  what  you  have  said,”  interposed  the 
girl,  “but  what  you  have  not  said,  that  I am  com- 
plaining about.” 

“Then  believe  the  Captain  and  me  that  we 
know  nothing  but  what  we  have  told  you.” 

Lucy  touched  Craton’s  arm.  He  was  lying  a 
little  too  generously.  Clara  did  not  seem  to  no- 
tice, and  proceeded: 

“Nevertheless,  I wish  to  ask  you  and  the  Cap- 
tain a few  questions,  and  I believe  that  it  is  your 


166  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

duty  to  answer  me.  I shall  know,  though,  if  you 
do  not  tell  me  the  truth.” 

There  was  silence,  and  she  went  on : 

“You  are  going  to  leave  here,  so  I am  told  by 
the  sailors,  day  after  to-morrow?” 

The  Captain  bowed.  He  would  let  her  do  the 
questioning,  and  then  he  would  not  get  mixed  in 
his  stories. 

“Then  you  have  given  up  hope  of  finding  Mr. 
Alden?” 

What  was  there  for  the  Captain  to  do  but  to 
nod  his  head  in  the  affirmative? 

“Then,  before  I consent  to  go  back  with  you  I 
want  to  be  sure  of  one  thing — I mean,  about  what 
happened  when  that  party  was  sent  in  search  of 
help  from  the  huts?” 

The  girl  was  leaning  far  over  and  looking  into 
the  Captain’s  face.  He  tried  to  shift  his  eyes,  but 
again  brought  them  back  to  the  girl’s,  for  there 
was  something  compelling  about  her. 

“As  I understand  it,  you  cast  lots  among  your- 
selves to  see  who  should  remain  in  the  hujts. 
Frank  cast  a lot  to  go?” 

This  time  Clara’s  gaze  fell  upon  Craton,  and 
he  nodded  his  head. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

“Richard  Wardon  cast  a lot  to  remain  in  the 
hut.  Is  this  what  I am  to  understand?” 

Both  men  smiled  a little  and  gave  the  sign  that 
she  had  spoken  truly. 

“On  your  honor  as  gentlemen — English  gentle- 
men— this  is  heaven’s  own  truth  you  are  telling 
me?” 

Of  course,  they  could  both  affirm  this,  for  each 
remembered  distinctly  that  it  had  been  as  she 
said. 

“On  our  honor,”  they  murmured. 

“You,  Will,  drew  a lot  to  stay  in  the  huts. 
Richard  Wardon  drew  a lot  to  stay  with  you,  but 
he  is  not  here.  How  does  his  name  come  to  be 
among  the  missing,  also?” 

Craton  looked  at  the  Captain,  and  that  officer 
fidgeted  with  his  fingers  and  devoutly  wished  that 
the  cook  would  call  them  to  dinner.  He  looked 
about  desperately,  and  then  said : 

“I  must  own,  my  dear  Miss  Benton,  that  Mr. 
Wardon  replaced  an  officer  whom  an  accident 
disabled,  and  who  was  unable  to  accompany  the 
party  of  relief.” 

Clara  turned  to  Mrs.  Craton  and  her  husband. 

“There,  you  see,”  she  said,  in  a smothered  tone. 
“I  had  a strange  dream  in  England  not  very  long 


]0g  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

ago.  It  was  as  you  have  said — they  started  out 
together.  But  how  did  they  become  separated 
from  their  companions?  Were  they  lost  on  the 
march,  or  were  they  left  behind?” 

The  slender  form  of  the  girl  was  drawn  to  its 
fullest  height.  She  commanded  that  they  tell 
her  all  by  the  soulful  expression  in  her  eyes. 

Mrs.  Craton  tried  to  draw  her  away,  saying 
that  the  dinner  must  be  ready. 

“But  I am  not  ready  for  dinner,”  replied  Clara. 
“I  want  you  to  bear  with  my  obstinacy  for  a little 
while.  You  have  always  been  kind  to  me,  Lucy ; 
now,  then,  do  not  make  me  believe  that  you  are 
cruel.” 

She  was  imploring  with  her  eyes,  her  gestures, 
as  much  as  with  the  sobbing  voice. 

“Well,”  remarked  the  Captain,  in  desperation, 
“Frank  fell  behind  because  he  could  not  walk  any 
more.  He  was  too  weak.” 

“Surely  you  waited  for  him?”  demanded  Clara, 
in  a sharp  voice. 

The  Captain  was  himself  again.  He  eyed  her 
with  a pity  that  came  from  the  bottom  of  his 
heart.  What  did  she  know  about  such  things — 
about  the  terrors  of  snow  and  ice? 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


169 


“It  was  a serious  matter  to  wait  even  as  long 
as  we  did,  my  dear  young  lady,”  answered  the 
Captain,  in  a low  tone.  “There  were  other  lives, 
those  of  the  men  we  had  left  behind  in  the  tent, 
depending  on  our  pushing  on.  But  we  all  loved 
Frank,  dearly  loved  him.” 

Craton  was  silent  now.  He  had  shifted  the 
burden  of  telling  the  worst  to  the  girl  upon  the 
shoulders  of  the  Captain.  Harding  would  use 
discretion.  Mrs.  Craton  leaned  lovingly  upon 
her  husband’s  arm,  awaiting  developments. 

“Then  why  was  he  left  alone  to  die  in  the 

storm?”  demanded  Clara.  “Why — why ” 

“He  was  not  left  alone,”  replied  the  Captain. 
“Didn’t  the  men  say  something?  Couldn’t  they 
have  carried  him?” 

“No,”  replied  the  officer;  “for  out  upon  the  ice, 
where  there  is  nothing  but  slippery  bergs  for 
miles,  as  far  as  you  can  see,  one  can  hardly  walk, 
much  less  carry  a heavy  burden.” 

“And  he  was  left  by  cowards  alone ” 

“Hush,  hush,  Miss  Benton !”  commanded  the 
Captain.  “There  was  not  one  coward  among  my 
men.  You  are  cruelly  unjust  to  them  and  to  me. 
The  bravest  man  set  the  rest  an  example  and 
stayed  behind  with  your  friend.” 


170  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

The  Captain  was  speaking  now  in  a low,  in- 
tense voice.  He  was  looking  straight  at  the  girl 
with  an  appeal  in  his  eyes. 

“I*t  was  Richard  Wardon  who  stayed  with  him, 
and  he  is  his  greatest  enemy.  But  I want  to 
hear  more.  Were  Frank  and  this  man  friends 
in  the  huts?  Did  they  ever  speak  angrily  to  each 
other?” 

Oh,  how  she  desired  with  her  whole  soul  to  find 
out  whether  Richard  Wardon  had  discovered 
about  her  love  for  Frank.  She  knew  it  was  true 
in  her  heart.  But  to  hear  it  affirmed  by  human 
lips  was  her  motive  for  questioning. 

“Oh,  all  the  men  had  plenty  of  quarrels,  and 
Wardon  was  a strange  fellow.  He  could  not 
make  the  others  understand.  But  everything  hit- 
ter is  forgotten  in  camp  before  the  setting  of  the 
sun.” 

“There,  you  see,  child,”  soothed  Mrs.  Craton, 
“now  you  are  answered.  There  were  no  hard  feel- 
ings between  these  two  men.  Now,  the  only  thing 
you  can  do  is  to  pray  that  some  time  they  will 
both  be  rescued.  Maybe  they  have  already  been 
taken  in  by  some  trappers  and  are  safe.” 

Clara  shook  her  head.  She  had  heard  enough 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

to  know  that  the  reason  for  Richard  Wardon 
offering  to  stay  with  Frank  had  been  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  lad’s  love  for  her.  But  she  would  not 
give  up  her  own  convictions. 

As  they  passed  to  the  table  she  caught  Will 
Craton’s  arm. 

“Will,  dear,”  she  pleaded,  “see  how  many  years 
you  and  I have  been  friends.  Will  you  tell  me 
the  truth  ?” 

“Yes.”  The  officer  had  decision  in  his  tone. 
He  would  fence  no  longer. 

“Had  you  any  idea  that  Richard  knew  that 
Frank  loved  me?” 

“Yes.” 

“How  did  you  discover  it?” 

“Frank  called  Richard  to  account  for  calling 
you  by  your  first  name  and  the  secret  leaked  out. 
There,  you  have  the  whole  story.  Wardon  was 
furiously  angry,  but,  then,  that’s  no  sign  that  he 
has  killed  him.  A man  forgets  much  when  he  is 
alone  in  a storm  like  those  two  passed  through. 
I fancy  they  were  friends  to  the  last.” 

He  spoke  these  words  to  cheer  the  despairing 
girl,  for  her  face  had  gone  white  and  her  hands 
were  trembling. 

“WThat  a time  I have  had  cross-questioning  you 


172  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

all  to  find  out  what  was  what !”  And  a little  smile 
flitted  over  the  tired,  drooping  mouth. 

“It  was  no  use  to  keep  it  from  me.  My  boy  is 
dead,  and  it  will  be  but  a short  time  before  I fol- 
low him.” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


173 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Richard  Wardon  was  standing  over  Alden, 
looking  down  into  his  face.  He  noted  that  there 
were  tired,  drawn  lines  about  the  finely  curved 
mouth  and  the  blue  eyes  were  sunk  deep  into 
their  sockets.  The  fair,  bronzed  hair  that  Clara 
had  so  admired  clung  in  damp,  feverish  rings 
about  the  browned  brow.  Wardon  had  seldom 
seen  a handsomer  face,  even  in  the  haggardness 
of  it.  He  felt  a stir  of  pity  in  his  heart;  but  the 
thought  of  Clara  Benton  immediately  took  its 
place.  This  slip  of  a boy  had  made  her  love  him, 
while  he,  Richard  Wardon,  with  his  immense 
frame,  his  fortune,  his  name  in  the  navy,  had 
been  unable  to  make  her  care  whether  he  lived  or 
died. 

He  always  had  such  thoughts  as  these  now  in 
his  mind.  He  could  not  drive  the  spirit  of  re- 
venge from  him.  He  hated  the  thought  of  cold 
murder.  He  would  rather  have  had  the  boy  fight 
with  him  for  his  life,  his  love;  but  Frank  lay 


174  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

stricken  low,  like  a sick  animal.  He  could  not 
ask  tliat ; but  be  could  leave  him  alone.  In  a few 
hours  the  snow  would  cover  the  young  form  and 
death  would  ensue ; then  Clara  would  be  his. 

He  raised  himself  at  this  thought.  It  had  filled 
him  with  a delightful  emotion  such  as  he  had  not 
dared  to  indulge  in  since  leaving  England,  for  he 
had  always  thought  that  the  other  man  was  prob- 
ably her  husband  by  this  time.  But,  no,  he  had 
heard  it  from  Frank’s  own  lips.  Again  he  bent 
over  the  prostrate  form.  His  eyes  were  filled 
with  hatred,  and  he  shook  Frank  roughly. 

“Wake  up!”  he  commanded.  “I  heard  you  a 
while  ago  and  thought  you  were  awake.” 

“I  was,”  replied  Frank,  in  a weak  voice.  “I 
was;  but  it’s  so  warm  under  here  and  so  cold  out 
there  that  I must  have  gone  to  sleep  again.” 

The  tired  white  lids  covered  the  blue  eyes  and 
Frank  dozed  off. 

Wardon  uttered  an  oath.  What  would  be  the 
use  of  his  telling  the  lad  why  he  was  leaving  him 
to  die?  He  would  not  understand.  He  could  not 
live  in  the  snow  longer  than  a few  hours,  and 
kindly  nature  would  let  him  sleep  his  life  away. 

But  he  would  try,  at  any  rate.  If  he  could  get 
him  something  to  eat,  that  would  revive  him.  He 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  775 

looked  about  him  desperately ; then  he  proceeded 
northward,  making  small  marks  in  the  trees  so 
that  he  would  know  his  route  back  again. 

He  believed  that  fate  was  with  him,  for  hardly 
had  he  made  his  way  through  the  snow  but  a few 
hundred  feet  before  the  squalling  of  a small  cub 
attracted  his  attention.  In  an  instant  he  had 
the  little  animal  and  had  ripped  open  its  throat 
to  keep  it  from  calling  the  mother  bear.  In  a 
few  moments  the  fast-falling  snow  had  covered 
their  traces  and  Richard  Wardon  was  back  at 
Frank’s  side.  The  young  man  still  slept  on.  He 
was  too  faint  and  weak  to  keep  his  mind  from 
wandering  long,  and  Richard  heard  him  mutter 
the  name  of  Clara  as  he  allowed  the  fresh  blood 
of  the  cub  to  run  into  his  cup.  He  was  not  long 
in  giving  food  to  the  sick  man.  He  knew  that  in 
one  hour  after  it  had  entered  Frank’s  stomach 
he  would  be  able  to  talk,  at  least.  Then  he  would 
make  him  understand  why  he  was  being  left  to 
die  in  the  snow.  He  would  paint  the  death  in  all 
its  horrors.  He  would  tell  Frank  how  devotedly 
he  himself  had  loved  Clara  Benton,  and  how  he 
was  going  back  to  her  to  woo  and  win  her  for 
himself.  These  thoughts  were  indeed  sweet  to 
him.  He  made  a.  breakfast  out  of  the  cub  meat, 


176  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

eating  it  partly  raw,  for  the  twigs  he  tore  from 
the  trees  were  wet  with  snow,  and  he  was  ex- 
hausting his  supply  of  matches. 

He  straightened  his  great  form  and  threw  out 
his  arms.  Now  that  the  sweet  hour  of  his  re- 
venge had  come,  he  hardly  knew  whether  he  was 
pleased  or  not.  The  imaginings  he  had  dreamed 
were  the  best  part  of  his  past  three  years. 

He  toyed  with  his  knife  for  many  minutes  after 
stripping  the  meat  from  the  cub’s  bones.  Then 
he  covered  up  every  trace  of  blood,  making  it  im- 
possible that  even  an  animal  could  smell  it,  for 
the  snow  was  heaped  high  upon  the  spot  where 
he  had  breakfasted,  with  neatness  and  dispatch. 
He  wound  the  bloody  meat  in  his  blanket,  for  he 
might  be  days  getting  into  a camp.  He  would 
need  the  food  before  then. 

And  he  had  no  scruples  against  sleeping  where 
the  remains  of  the  cub  had  rested.  It  was  life  to 
him.  He  had  finished,  and  it  was  now  time  to 
leave  Alden.  He  went  to  the  spot  where  he  knew 
the  boy  was  sleeping.  The  warm  breath  had 
melted  the  snow  as  it  fell,  and  Wardon  could  see 
that,  instead  of  the  yellow  pallor,  there  was  now 
a sign  of  life  upon  Frank’s  face. 

Wardon  still  had  the  delightful  sensation  that 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ;|_77 

there  was  something  intensely  pleasant  before 
him.  He  was  to  leave  the  man  to  die  in  the  snow 
— his  enemy,  the  only  man  he  never  could  forgive. 

He  stooped  down  and  lifted  the  blanket  a little 
roughly  from  Alden’s  face." 

“Are  you  going  to  sleep  all  day?”  he  asked, 
suddenly  realizing  that  he  had  to  commence  some- 
where. 

Frank  stirred  and  opened  his  eyes.  Richard 
could  see  that  they  looked  brighter.  The  lad  had 
been  dying  of  hunger. 

He  would  die  harder  now,  even,  for  the  bit  of 
cub’s  meat. 

This  thought  made  Wardon  a little  more  gentle 
as  he  forced  Frank  to  sit  up.  It  was  as  if  he 
were  already  in  the  presence  of  majestic  death. 
Of  course  Frank  would  die;  no  human  power 
could  save  him. 

“I  want  to  talk  to  you,  Alden,”  he  sdi  1,  gruffly. 
He  did  not  call  the  lad  “Frank,”  as  he  Lad  once 
or  twice,  when  in  his  softer  moods. 

“Yes,”  replied  Frank,  and  he  shivered  as  he 
drew  the  blanket  about  his  feverish  body. 

“You  see,”  went  on  Wardon,  “it’s  getting 
rather  risky  to  stay  out  here  in  the  storm,  and  if 
one  wants  to  live  he’d  better  move  on.” 


178 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


Frank  was  looking  at  Wardon's  face  curiously. 
There  was  an  expression  upon  it  he  had  never 
seen  before.  It  was  as  if  it  had  been  changed 
by  some  terrible  accident.  Deep  lines  were  drawn 
from  the  forehead  to  the  chin.  Long  dents  cov- 
ered the  heavy  brow  and  the  eyes  were  crafty 
in  their  intentness. 

“What’s  the  matter,  Dick?”  asked  Frank,  set- 
tling deeper  into  his  blanket.  “Old  man,  are  you 
ill?” 

This  question  made  the  fury  drive  deeper  for 
its  revenge.  He  would  not  be  pitied.  He  was  the 
one  to  pity,  to  give  mercy. 

“I’m  all  right,”  he  replied,  gruffly;  “it’s  you 
I’m  thinking  of.  I don’t  know  just  what  to  do 
with  you.” 

And  how  true  that  statement  was!  Wardon 
did  not  know  whether  he  wanted  to  let  his  beast 
nature  go  and  tear  his  enemy  limb  from  limb,  or 
to  leave  him  to  the  wind  and  the  snow.  Of  course, 
he  knew  in  his  heart  he  would  decide  upon  the 
latter,  for  he  himself,  Richard  Wardon,  was  go- 
ing back  to  London  to  marry  Clara  Benton,  to 
have  her  against  her  will  if  need  be,  and  then  if 
— if — she  would  not,  he  would  torture  her  soul 
by  the  description  of  the  death  of  her  young  lover. 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  179 

But  this  thought  he  put  out  of  his  mind  now. 

Frank  was  speaking  from  the  depth  of  his  cov- 
ering. 

“Dick,  you’re  too  good  to  me,”  he  said,  weakly, 
“and  I’m  not  selfish  enough  to  want  you  to  try 
to  save  me,  when  it  might  jeopardize  your  own 
safety.  However  much  I want  to  live,  I can’t 
ask  it,  Dick — I simply  can’t.” 

There  was  a peculiar  feeling  tugging  at  War- 
don’s  heart. 

“You  love  Clara  Benton  very  much,  don’t 
you?”  he  said,  trying  to  whip  the  sympathy  from 
his  feelings. 

“Very  much,  indeed,  Dick,”  confided  Frank. 
“But  I’ve  wanted  to  tell  you  something  for  a 
long  time.  I know  I can’t  live,  that  I can’t  ex- 
pect a strong  fellow  like  you  to  give  up  his  life 
for  a sick  dog  like  me.  And  I’ve  had  it  in  my 
mind  for  some  time  to  tell  you  this,  Clara  will 
need  somebody  to  love  her,  and,  Dick,  I would 
rather  it  would  be  you  than  any  other  man  living, 
after  I’m  dead.  I’m  going  to  send  her  a message 
and  tell  her  how  good  you  have  been  to  me.  And 
she  will  care  for  you — she  couldn’t  help  it;  any 
woman  would.  You’re  a fine  chap,  Dick.” 

Had  a bomb  exploded  at  Richard  Wardon’s 


180  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

feet  lie  would  not  have  been  more  startled.  He 
did  not  reply,  and  Frank  went  on  : 

“I  know  that  this  is  my  end,”  he  said,  falling 
down  again,  “for  a man  couldn’t  survive  alone 
in  a storm  like  this,  and  I’m  going  to  send  you 
on,  Dick,  to  life  and  to — her.” 

The  speaker  closed  his  eyes,  and  Richard  got 
up  and  looked  at  him  intently.  The  lines  had 
gone  from  his  face.  The  great,  firm  mouth  was 
pursed  into  a new  resolution.  He  stooped  down 
and  tapped  Frank  on  the  shoulder. 

“Don’t  go  to  sleep  again,”  he  said.  “I’ve  made 
up  my  mind  about  you.  I shall  carry  you  to 
camp.  We  will  take  our  fate  in  our  own  hands. 
I shall  be  back  in  a moment.”  • 

He  wanted  to  be  alone  with  his  thoughts,  alone 
in  the  greatness  of  his  changed  heart.  He  felt 
that  a healing  hand  had  been  laid  upon  his  seared 
life  and  he  realized  that  tears  were  falling  quick- 
ly upon  the  white  snow. 

When  he  went  back  he  found  Frank  still 
asleep,  and  Wardon,  with  his  giant  strength, 
lifted  the  slender  figure  in  his  arms,  still  leaving 
it  bound  in  the  blankets,  and  struck  out  toward 
the  camp  in  the  direction  he  had  seen  the  Captain 
take.  He  knew  that  there  would  be  signals.  He 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  J g] 

wrapped  his  blanket  of  meat  all  about  Frank,  and 
still  the  lad  slept  on  and  on,  until  the  giant 
strength  of  the  man  who  carried  him  had  reached 
its  end,  and  Wardon  laid  him  upon  the  snow. 

It  was  now  clear.  There  were  no  falling  flakes; 
only  a great  white  expanse  before  him  and  the 
silent  bundle  at  his  feet. 

He  bent  over  Frank  to  make  sure  that  he  was 
living.  Frank  put  Wardon  in  mind  of  a large, 
sleeping  baby.  The  breath  came  in  clear,  rapid 
gasps,  showing  that  sheer  weakness  was  the  only 
trouble. 

Wardon  made  the  lad  eat  a generous  portion 
of  the  cub  meat,  and  then  threw  himself  upon  the 
snow  beside  Frank,  crawling  under  the  blanket 
to  sleep. 

And  so  the  days  wore  away  until  if  a friend 
had  looked  into  the  face  of  Richard  Wardon  he 
would  not  have  recognized  him  as  the  same  man 
who  had  sworn  to  kill  the  boy  who  had  ruined 
his  happiness. 

The  tall  frame  had  bent  under  the  great  bur- 
den it  had  carried  for  so  many  hours.  The  cub 
meat  was  gone,  and  Richard  Wardon  had  eaten 
nothing  for  days.  He  had  saved  the  portion  of 
the  animal  for  the  sick  lad.  As  much  as  once  he 


Ig2  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

desired  the  life  of  Frank  he  now  wanted  to  save 
it.  He  would  have  given  his  own  freely  for  Al- 
den’s.  There  was  no  more  hatred,  no  more  jeal- 
ousy in  his  heart ; all  that  he  desired  was  that  the 
boy  should  go  back  to  London,  to  life  and — to  her. 

This  was  what  Frank  had  offered  him,  and 
now,  at  the  expense  of  his  own  existence,  he  as 
freely  offered  it  back  to  Frank, 

On  and  on  through  the  snow,  until  it  seemed 
that  his  limbs  had  no  more  feeling  in  them.  Still 
Alden  slept  most  of  the  time.  It  was  only  at 
night  that  Wardon  allowed  himself  to  recuper- 
ate, and  upon  this  long,  last  day  his  strength  al- 
most failed  him.  Straight  ahead  as  the  crow 
flies  Wardon  could  hear  the  barking  of  dogs.  He 
did  not  dare  to  linger  long  upon  the  way,  for  the 
night  was  coming  over  them,  and  he  knew  that 
Alden  had  to  have  food  before  morning,  or  all 
his  own  sacrifice  would  be  in  vain. 

Suddenly  he  allowed  his  burden  to  rest  upon 
the  snow. 

“Alden,”  he  said,  slowly,  “far  ahead,  but  not 
so  far  but  what  I can  reach  it  to-night,  is  a camp. 
I can  hear  the  barking  of  the  dogs.  Will  you 
sleep  here  until  I go  for  help?” 

This  was  little  for  Frank  to  consent  to.  His 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  ] §3 

whole  life  was  in  the  hands  of  his  friend.  He 
had  never  had  one  thought  but  that  Dick  loved 
him.  He  could  not  see  the  change  in  the  man, 
for  he  was  too  weak  to  notice. 

Wardon’s  mind  began  to  w ander  when  he  came 
in  sight  of  the  well-lighted  camp. 

He  staggered  into  the  presence  of  his  former 
companions  and  friends  with  no  smile  of  recog- 
nition upon  his  face. 

Mrs.  Craton  saw  him  first.  She  tugged  at  her 
husband’s  sleeve. 

“Will,  there  is  a man  who  looks  as  if  he  had 
lost  his  mind.  He  does  not  belong  to  our  camp.” 

Craton  turned,  and  in  the  groveling  figure  he 
saw  the  likeness  of  the  once  great  Wardon — the 
stooped  shoulders,  the  shifting  eyes  and  the  claw- 
like hands. 

Craton  rose  to  his  feet  with  a white  face. 

“It  is  Wardon,”  he  said,  slowly,  letting  his 
eyes  fall  upon  Clara. 

They  could  never  tell  until  long  afterward 
whether  Clara  had  been  shown  that  her  lover 
was  living  or  not.  She  made  no  sign,  but  allowed 
the  Captain  and  Craton  to  question  the  crazed 


mail- 


Ig4  UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR. 

“It’s  a lady  I want,”  Wardon  kept  reiterating, 
“a  pretty  lady.  She  must  save  him.” 

“Who? — save  who,  Wardon?”  cried  Craton. 
“Where  is  Frank?” 

“She  must  save  him,”  cried  Wardon,  again,  in 
an  agonized  tone.  His  mind  had  grasped  but  one 
idea — that  was  that  Frank  wanted  Clara.  He 
could  remember  nothing  more.  Bit  by  bit  they 
drew  it  out  of  him,  and  by  the  steady  questioning 
of  Craton,  who  was  now  very  much  excited,  they 
understood  that  Kichard  knew  where  the  lad  was. 

They  tried  to  make  Wardon  sleep  and  eat,  hut 
he  shook  his  head  dismally.  He  would  go  with 
them.  They  found  Frank  sleeping  where  Rich- 
ard had  left  him,  too  weak  to  realize  that  he  was 
alone.  And  neither  Craton  nor  the  Captain 
could  force  Richard  to  allow  them  to  carry  the 
lad.  Again  the  exhausted  man  lifted  the  slender 
form  and  staggered  toward  the  camp.  The  women 
could  not  believe  that  Alden  would  be  living,  the 
cold  was  so  intense.  But  when  they  saw  the 
limp,  sleeping  figure  dropped  before  them,  and 
Wardon  fall  also,  Mrs.  Craton  leaned  over  Clara 
and  whispered  in  her  ear : 

“Clara,  who  was  right — you  with  your  dreams, 
or  my  belief  in  the  mercy  of  God?” 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  Jgg 

Wardon  was  again  on  his  feet.  His  eyes  rested 
lovingly  upon  Clara. 

“I  could  not  kill  him,”  he  whispered,  “for  he 
said,  when  we  were  out  there  in  the  snow,  that 
you  were  to  love  me  when  he  was  dead.  And  I 
determined  that  he  should  live.  Frank,  Frank, 
wake  up  and  see  who’s  here!” 

The  bundle  stirred  and  immediately  Clara  was 
on  her  knees.  She  loosened  the  blankets  from 
the  curly  head  and  was  bathing  the  pale  face  in 
tears. 

“It  was  Wardon  who  saved  me,”  gasped  Frank, 
too  ill  to  ask  how  they  had  discovered  the  camp 
and  how  the  women  came  to  be  among  them.  “I 
told  him  to  go  to  Clara,  but  he  wouldn’t.  He  was 
too  good.” 

Craton  had  his  arms  about  Wardon. 

“Can’t  you  remember  me,  old  pal,  and  forgive 
me?”  he  whispered. 

But  the  glazed  eyes,  now  near  death,  could  not 
show  the  faintest  sign  of  life. 

“It’s  over,  it’s  over,”  was  all  he  could  whisper ; 
“the  struggle  is  over.” 

Tears  stood  in  the  Captain’s  eyes,  and  Mrs. 
Craton  ran  away  to  her  room  to  ‘indulge  in  a 
good,  womanly  cry. 


186 


UNDBR  THE  NORTH  STAR. 


“I  have  made  her  happy,”  muttered  Wardon. 
“They  will  forget  me  when  I am  gone.  But  I will 
not  forget  her,”  he  went  on,  now  so  weak  that  he 
could  scarcely  whisper.  “Clara,  if  I hacl  forgot- 
ten you  I could  not  have  had  the  strength  to 
bring  him  here.” 

Clara  heard  this,  and  Frank,  also,  who  was 
gathering  together  the  broken  threads  of  his 
thoughts. 

The  girl  came  to  Wardon’s  side  and  took  his 
hand  in  hers.  She  knelt,  and,  while  the  glimmer 
of  life  was  still  upon  his  face,  she  kissed  his  lips, 
and  he  started  up  with  renewed  vigor. 

“It  was  you,  Clara,  who  saved  him — you, 
through  me.  I have  given  him  to  you,  and  may 
you  both  be  happy.” 

The  next  day  they  buried  him,  and  the  great, 
loving,  passionate  heart  that  had  loved  Clara 
Benton  so  wildly  was  still  forever. 

Then  they  went  back  to  England,  to  their 
home;  but  before  going  Clara  insisted  upon  mar- 
rying Frank. 

“Then  I may  take  care  of  him,”  she  said,  lov- 
ingly; “and  no  one  has  a better  right.” 

And  there  were  no  refusals.  They  were  mar- 
ried by  the  priest,  who  lived  near  the  camp,  be- 


UNDER  THE  NORTH  STAR.  pg7 

fore  leaving  for  the  relief  boat, and  Clara  thanked 
heaven  that  she  had  at  last  been  given  her  dar- 
ling. 

Frank’s  recovery  was  rapid.  They  had  delayed 
the  home-going  for  a day  or  two  upon  his  ac- 
count, and  the  evening  before  starting  Clara  said 
to  her  husband : 

“I  want  to  go  out  to  his  grave.  Will  you  let 
me?” 

“You  shall  go,”  returned  Frank;  “and  so  shall 
I,  if  you  will  help  me.” 

Together  they  went  over  the  snow  and  at  last 
reached  the  grave.  Clara’s  tears  fell  upon  it,  and 
she  humbly  asked  heaven  to  forgive  her  the 
doubts  and  distrust  she  had  suffered  through  the 
past  years. 

“He  was  my  friend,”  said  Frank,  who  had 
never  been  told  differently.  “I  could  not  have 
had  my  wdfe  nor  known  her  love  if  it  had  not 
been  for  this  man” — and  here  Frank  hesitated  as 
he  placed  his  arm  around  Clara — “this  very  good 
man  who  sleeps  here,  Under  the  North  Star.” 


THE  END. 


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